Modernism Flashcards
What is the modernist view of the family?
Modernist approaches (Functionalism & New Right) see the nuclear family as the ideal and view other family types as deviations.
What has been the impact on family diversity in Britain?
10% of families are step families
25% now head by one parent
43% of children now being born outside of marriage
What do functionalists say about family diversity?
Generally ignore it
Assumes nuclear family performs essential functions and so will remain dominant type in societiets
How do New Right thinkers view family diversity?
As a threat to social stability. They argue the only correct family is the patriarchal nuclear family with clear gender roles.
Why do the new right appose lone parent families?
Lone-parent families lead to poor discipline and lack of male role models.
Increased dependency on welfare.
Family breakdown causes wider social issues.
What does Benson argue?
Married couples are more stable and committed than cohabiting ones.
Family breakdown: 6% in married vs. 32% in unmarried.
What does Ermisch say?
Increasing social norm to cohabit first and marry later also increases the likelihood of unmarried children
What policies do the New Right support?
Encouraging marriage via tax breaks.
Discouraging lone-parent families.
Reversing policies like same-sex marriage and easy divorce access.
What do feminists argue against the modernism perspective?
Conventional family types oppress women due to patriarchal norms and values
How can their view on lone parents be criticised?
There is no evidence to suggest that those brought up in lone parent families succumb to deviant behaviour
How do personal life perspective argue against their perspective?
It is about the meaning to those involved not the new rights definition of cohabitation to marriage as they believe it signifies less commitment
What does Smart argue against the modernism perspective?
Poverty causes cohabitation not the decision to not marry
What does Chester argue about family diversity?
The new right exaggerate family diversity
People may not be in a nuclear family at all times, but they were, will be, or aim to be in one due to the life-cycle.
What does Chester argue about conventional family is?
Nuclear family with traditional gender division of labour
What does Chester argue about Neo-conventional family is?
Dual earner family whereby both spouses go to work
What examples support Chester?
Most people marry and have children.
Most children are raised by their biological parents.
Divorce exists, but many remarry.
Cohabitation often leads to marriage.
