Modernism and the Nuclear Family

Question 1

Describe the functionalist view on the nuclear family

Answer 1

• They see a ‘functional fit’ between the nuclear family and modern society
• The nuclear family is suited to meeting the needs of a geographically and socially mobile workforce of modern society, and performs 2 essential functions, primary socialisation of children and stabilisation of adult personalities
• So other types are seen as dysfunctional and deviant, as they’re less able to perform the functions for the family

Question 2

Describe the New Right view on the nuclear family

Answer 2

• They have a conservative and anti-feminist view on the family, are firmly opposed to family diversity and there’s 1 correct family type, the nuclear family with instrumental and expressive roles
• They see this family as natural and based on biological differences and agree with functionalists.
• They oppose changes in the family, such as cohabitation, gay marriage and lone parenthood. They argue these changes leads to social problems

Question 3

Why do the New Right see lone parenthood as harmful to children?

Answer 3

• Lone mothers can’t discipline their children properly
• Lone-parent families leave boys without an adult male role model, leading to delinquency
• They’re more likely to be poorer so are burden on the welfare state and taxpayers

Question 4

Describe cohabitation as the main cause of lone parenthood, in the New Right view

Answer 4

• e.g. Benson found that over the first 3 years of a baby’s life, the rate of family breakdown was higher in cohabiting couples (20%) than married couples (6%)
• They argue that couples are more stable in marriage as it requires a commitment, while cohabitations allows parents to avoid responsibility

Question 5

Describe the solution to ‘fix’ our broken society due to family diversity, according to the New Right

Answer 5

• Only a return to ‘traditional values’, the value of marriage, can prevent social disintegration and damage to children
• They see laws and policies as easy access to divorce, gay marriage and availability to benefits as undermining the nuclear family. So the government needs to encourage couples to marry through polices that support marriage

Question 6

Describe a criticism of the New Right

Answer 6

Oakley argues they wrongly assume that the husband and wives’ roles as fixed by biology, instead it due to the patriarchal oppression of women as the nuclear family prevents women working and keeps them financially dependent on men, according to feminists

Question 7

Describe the neo-conventional family

Answer 7

• Chester argues the only important change in family patterns is the move from the nuclear family to the ‘neo-conventional family’
• This is a dual-earner family as both spouses go to work, similar to the symmetrical family.

Question 8

Describe an argument that states that little has changed in family patterns

Answer 8

• Chester recognises that there is more family diversity recently, he argues most aren’t choosing to live in alternatives on a long-term basis, and the nuclear family remains the ideal for most
• Chester argues that many people aren’t part of a nuclear family at one time due to the life cycle. Many living in a one-person household, e.g. elderly widows, divorced men or young people who haven’t married, were either part of a nuclear family or will be

Question 9

Describe patterns that support Chester’s argument that little has changed

Answer 9

• Most adults marry and have children who are reared by their 2 biological parents
• Cohabitation has increased, but for most it’s a temporary phase before marrying.
• Although births outside marriage have increased, most are jointly registers, showing that parents are committed to bringing up children as a couple

Question 10

Describe a view that values the importance of family diversity

Answer 10

• Unlike Chester, the Rapoports argue that diversity is key in understanding family life today.
• They believe we’ve moved away from the nuclear family as the dominant family, to a range of family types. Families in Britain have adapted to a pluralistic society (where lifestyles are more diverse)
• So family diversity reflects freedom of choice and the acceptance of different cultures and lifestyles. Unlike the New Right, they see diversity as a positive respond to people’s different needs.

Question 11

Outline the types of family diversity in Britain, as the Rapoports identify

Answer 11

• Organisational diversity
• Cultural diversity
• Social class diversity
• Life-stage diversity
• Generational diversity

Question 12

What is organisational diversity?

Answer 12

Differences in how family roles are organised. e.g. some couple have 2 wage-earners or 1

Question 13

What is cultural diversity?

Answer 13

Different cultural, religious and ethnic groups have different family structures. e.g. higher proportion of extended families among Asian households

Question 14

What is social class diversity?

Answer 14

Differences in family structures are partly due to income differences between households of different social classes

Question 15

What is life-stage diversity?

Answer 15

Family structures differ due to the stages of life cycle e.g. young newlyweds or retired couples whose children are grown up

Question 16

What is generational diversity?

Answer 16

Older and younger generations have different attitudes and experiences that reflect the periods in which they’ve lived