P & T In Family Diversity

Question 1

What do black Caribbean and black African people have a higher proportion of?

Answer 1

Lone parent families

Question 2

In majority, who is normally the head lone parent in black families? Why?

Answer 2

The female

The high rate of female headed lone parent black families has sometimes been seen as evidence of family disorganisation that can be traced back to slavery or more recently to high rates of unemployment among black males

It is argued that male unemployment and poverty have meant that black men are less able to provide for their family, resulting in higher rates of desertion or marital breakdown

Question 3

How could slavery have an impact on black lone parent families?

Answer 3

Couples were sold separately abs children stayed with the mother

It is argued that this established a pattern of family life that persists today

Question 4

Which 2 key sociologists are used when talking about black families?

Answer 4

Mirza

Reynolds

Question 5

What does mirza argue in relation to black families?

Answer 5

Argues that the higher rate of lone parent families among blacks is not the result of disorganisation but rather reflects the high value that black women place on independence

Question 6

What did Reynolds argue in relation to black families?

Answer 6

Argues that the statistics are misleading in that many apparently “lone” parents are in stable, supportive but non cohabiting relationships

Question 7

What do Asian households tend to be?

Answer 7

Larger than other ethnic groups

Such households are sometimes multi generational, including 3 generations often organised through a network of males and bound together by ideas of brotherhood and loyalty, but most are nuclear rather than extended families

Larger households are partly a result of the younger age profile of British Asians since a higher proportion are in the childbearing age groups compared with the population as a whole

To some extent reflect the value placed on the extended family in Asian cultures - cultural ideas of having more children

Question 8

Which key sociologist is used in relation to Asian families in family diversity?

Answer 8

Ballard

Question 9

What did Ballard find?

Answer 9

Found extended families provided an important source of support among Asian migrants during early migration

In the early period of migration houses were often shared by extended families whilst today most are nuclear, relatives often live nearby affecting the importance of kinship networks

He found that whilst many marriages are largely arranged and are seen as a contract between two families children today increasingly expect to have some say in their marriage partners and couples today expect more independence from their kin

Question 10

What does data collected in the Policy Studies Institutes Fourth National Survey of Ethnic Minorities find in relation to Asian families?

Answer 10

Found that divorce, single parents and smaller families were now found within the British Asian Community

They were more likely than other ethnic groups to marry and marry earlier than their white peers and cohabitation, separation and divorce were relatively rare

There was also evidence that many couples including those with children still continue to live in the same house as the males parents

Question 11

What are the 2 key sociologists in relation to types of diversity?

Answer 11

Rapoport

Eversley and Bonnerjea

Question 12

What is Rapoports view of diversity?

Answer 12

See diversity as central today

They claim it is the norm and serves people’s needs, rather than causing family decline

They identify 5 types of diversity:
- cultural diversity 
- life stage diversity 
- organisational diversity 
- generational diversity
- social class diversity 
CLOGS

Question 13

What is cultural diversity?

Answer 13

Caused by migration

Ethnic groups have different family structures
Eg/ more children, larger families, multi generational families etc

Question 14

What is life stage diversity?

Answer 14

Through an individuals life course they are likely to experience a variety of different structures

Eg/ childless couple, parents with young children, retired couples, widows etc

Question 15

What is organisational diversity?

Answer 15

Different ways of organising the household

Eg/ single or dual earners and/or joint or segregated conjugal roles etc

Question 16

What is generational diversity?

Answer 16

Depending on the era in which an individual is raised they may have different views (views can change) towards different household structures : attitudes to cohabitation, divorce, SPFs, same sex relationships etc

Question 17

What is social class diversity?

Answer 17

The income (could change and have a different effect in the future) of a family can influence its structure

Eg/ middle class women pursuing careers may choose to have children later, class differences in childrearing practices etc

Question 18

What is Eversley and Bonnerjea’s view on types of diversity?

Answer 18

Highlight how family types may also be linked to geographical location and local influences

They identify six different types of area which are connected to different types of family organisation:

• affluent south
• geriatric wards
• older industrial areas
• recently declined industrial areas
• rural areas
• inner cities

Question 19

What do Eversely and Bonnerjea say about the affluent south in relation to diversity?

Answer 19

More likely to have mobile two-parent nuclear families

Question 20

What do Eversely and Bonnerjea say about the geriatric wards in relation to diversity?

Answer 20

Coastal areas which attract retired and elderly couples who may live some distance from relatives

Question 21

What do Eversely and Bonnerjea say about older industrial areas in relation to diversity?

Answer 21

More likely to have traditional family structures and relationships and older populations

Question 22

What do Eversely and Bonnerjea say about the recently declined industrial areas in relation to diversity?

Answer 22

Young families often have moved there abs have little support from extended kin

Question 23

What do Eversely and Bonnerjea say about rural areas in relation to diversity?

Answer 23

Families who work in agriculture and related areas of the economy and tend to be extended and traditional

However many of these areas have been taken over by commuters

Question 24

What do Eversely and Bonnerjea say about inner cities in relation to diversity?

Answer 24

Often experience high levels of social deprivation and a large turnover of inhabitants, many single person households and a higher proportion of migrants

There are also many single parent families and people are more likely to be isolated from kin

Question 25

Despite increased family diversity abs plurality, what do many sociologists argue?

Answer 25

There is a strong and powerful ideology which represents the nuclear family as the idealised norm and the typical family type

Politicians, media and advertising promote this view of the family which LEACH referred to as the “cereal packet image” of the family

Question 26

Which 3 key sociologists can be used to support sociologists view in relation to family diversity AND plurality?

Answer 26

Leach

Thorne

Oakley

Question 27

What is Oakley and Thornes view of the strong and powerful ideology which represents the nuclear family as the idealised norm and the typical family type in relation to family diversity and plurality?

Answer 27

They are critical of this ideology and how the nuclear family has been elevated to a high status and glorified in society arguing that it falsifies reality abs obscured the diversity and plurality of contemporary family life

They claim that the ideology of the nuclear family is misleading and stereotypical

Consequently some trends (such as same shes families) which contribute to family and household diversity and plurality have been interpreted in a negative light by some modernist social commentators

Question 28

The following trends contribute to family and household diversity and plurality have been interpreted in a negative light by some modernist social commentators:

Answer 28

Same sex families

Single parent households

Divorce trends

Increase in remarriage

Cohabitation

Childless families

Reconstituted families

Question 29

What do some modernist social commentators suggest about the institution of marriage and implication of family?

Answer 29

They are under threat as a consequence of these trends (Same sex families, Single parent households, Divorce trends, Increase in remarriage, Cohabitation, Childless families, Reconstituted families)

Question 30

What is the functionalist view on family diversity AND plurality?

Answer 30

They have a preference for nuclear family and place high value on it - uniquely suited to meeting the needs of modern society and are likely to consider other family types to be dysfunctional and deviant

Acknowledge diverse family trends and strictures but argue that the changes to the family have actually been minor and the basic features of family life remain remarkably unchanged

Question 31

Which key sociologist is used for the functionalist view of family diversity and plurality?

Answer 31

Chester

Question 32

What does Chester argue in terms of functionalism in relation to family diversity and plurality?

Answer 32

Argues that the majority of people are not choosing to live in alternatives to the nuclear family on a long term basis but it is a reflection of the life cycle of the family which is fluid

He claims most people experience the nuclear family experience at some part of their lives and aspire to it abs that statistics on household composition are misleading as they only provide a snapshot picture of a single moment in time

He noted there has been some increased diversity but argues that only significant change has been the evolution of the traditional nuclear family into a neo conventional nuclear family

For him the extent and importance of family diversity has been exaggerated - he also observes that most diverse family structures actually conform to a modified version of the nuclear unit

Question 33

What is a neo conventional nuclear family?

Answer 33

Composed of dual earners rather than the traditional division of labour between a male breadwinner and female homemaker

Question 34

What is the new right view on family diversity and plurality?

Answer 34

Adopt a conservative and anti feminist perspective and firmly oppose family diversity

Hold the view there is only one correct family type - nuclear

Support the conventional patriarchal nuclear family with male as breadwinner and female in the mother/housewife role which they see as natural

See family diversity as a product of family breakdown which leads to lack of discipline, educational failure, crime and a dependency culture

Opposed to most of the changing family patterns that have emerged over more recent decades

Question 35

In particular what is the new right critical of in relation to family diversity and plurality?

Answer 35

Lone parent families and claim that the collapse of relationships between cohabiting couples is the main cause of an increase in lone parent families

Question 36

Which key sociologist is used by the new right in relation to family diversity and plurality?

Answer 36

Benson

Question 37

What is bensons new right view on family diversity and plurality?

Answer 37

Benson analysed data of parents with babies and found that over the first three years of the babies life the rate of family breakdown was much higher among cohabiting couples

In the new rights view only marriage which requires a deliberate commitment can provide a stable environment in which to bring up children

New right commentators and many conservative politicians have used such evidence to support the view that both the family and society at large are “broken” - they regard many laws and policies as undermining the conventional nuclear family and argue that only a return to transitional values can prevent social disintegration

Question 38

What is the feminist view on family diversity and plurality?

Answer 38

View family diversity as positive - conventional nuclear family as based on patriarchal oppression and the fundamental cause of gender inequality

Critical of new right

See family diversity as a positive and liberating trend where individuals particularly females are able to live in units which reflect their own individual choice

Like the changing patterns of marriage, cohabitation and divorce and the plurality of household types which are more common in contemporary Britain - not interpreted as negative or as evidence of “supposed decline” in the institution of marriage and the family

Question 39

What is the view of postmodernists (PMs) on family diversity and plurality?

Answer 39

Emphasise family diversity - argue that greater diversity and choice brings with it advantages such as it gives individuals greater freedom to plot their own lifecourse, to choose the kind of family and personal relationships that meet their needs and the timing and sequence of events

Question 40

For postmodernisms view of family diversity and plurality, who are the 5 key sociologists?

Answer 40

Stacey

Morgan

Hareven

Giddens

Beck

Question 41

What did Stacey argue in relation to postmodernism and family diversity?

Answer 41

Argues that greater freedom and choice has particularly benefitted women who she regards as being the main agents of change in the family

It has enabled them to free themselves from patriarchal oppression and shape their family arrangements to meet their needs

However many recognise that greater freedom of choice in relationships mean as greater risk of instability

Question 42

What is meant by life course?

Answer 42

A person experiences a number of family structures in their lifetime

A person gets to make their own decisions, as they have greater freedom, to meet their own needs

Question 43

What do PMs argue about society?

Answer 43

Argue that society has entered a new postmodern phase which is increasingly individualistic, fragmented and diverse and has characterised by rapid social change and less predictability

They believe there is greater flexibility and variation in people’s family lives - we have much greater choice about our lifestyles and personal relationships - greater freedom to plot own life course

Family structures are more pluralistic abs family diversity has increased

Question 44

What does Morgan argue in relation to postmodernism and family diversity?

Answer 44

Argues that it is pointless making generalisations about the family as if it were a single thing - a family is simply whatever arrangements those involved choose to call their family - he prefers the concept of FAMILY PRACTICES

In his view families are not concrete things or structure

However he recognises that while life close and family practices are actions of individuals they take place in the context of wider social structures and norms which influence the beliefs we have about our rights, responsibilities and obligations within the family - these may exert an influence over family members expectations and actions eg/gender norms

Question 45

What are family practices?

MORGAN - PMS AND FAMILY DIVERSITY

Answer 45

In his view families are not concrete things or structure - they’re simply what people actually do - routines practices/actions through which we create our sense of being a family member

However he recognises that while life close and family practices are actions of individuals they take place in the context of wider social structures and norms which influence the beliefs we have about our rights, responsibilities and obligations within the family

these may exert an influence over family members expectations and actions eg/gender norms - may influence individuals expectations of each other within the family

Question 46

From Morgans perspective of family practices what do sociologists such as Hareven argue?

PMs

Answer 46

Argues attention should be focused on how people create their own diverse family lives and practices through life course analysis

This involves in depth unstructured interviews with family members to explore the meanings and understanding the choices people make about family life and relationships

Question 47

What is the view of Giddens AND Beck in relation to Postmodernism and family diversity?

Answer 47

While not accepting everything PMs say they have been influenced by PMs ideas

They develop the individualisation thesis and explore the effects of increasing individual choice upon families and relationships

The thesis argues people’s lives were defined by fixed gender roles in the past which largely prevented people from choosing their own life course

By contrast individuals today have fewer such certainties or fixed roles to follow therefore we have become disembedded from traditional roles and structures leaving us with more freedom to choose how we lead our lives

Question 48

What is the individualisation thesis suggested by Giddens AND Beck?

Answer 48

The thesis argues people’s lives were defined by fixed gender roles in the past which largely prevented people from choosing their own life course
Eg/ everyone was expected to marry and take their appropriate gender role

By contrast individuals today have fewer such certainties or fixed roles to follow therefore we have become disembedded from traditional roles and structures leaving us with more freedom to choose how we lead our lives

Question 49

How does Beck explain the individualisation thesis?

Answer 49

As he puts it, the “standard biography” (defined roles and little freedom) or life course that people followed in the past has been replaced by the “do it yourself biography” (make their own decisions and open to diversity)that individuals today must construct for themselves - this has huge implications for family relationships and family diversity

Question 50

What did Giddens find in relation to postmodernism and family diversity?

Answer 50

Observes that in recent decades families and marriage have been transformed by greater choice ( largely a consequence of improved contraception allowing sex and intimacy rather than reproduction to become the main reason for a relationships existence) and equality (which women have gained because of feminism and greater opportunities in education and work)

Sees the “pure relationship” as typical of late modern society - key feature is that it exists to satisfy each partners needs and is no longer held together by norms religion and laws - likely to survive as both think it is in their best interest as they’re free to choose to stay or go - relationships become part of self discovery

Recognises that with more choice personal relationships inevitably become less stable leading to greater diversity

Question 51

How can what Giddens argues be modelled on same sex relationships?

Answer 51

The “pure relationship” (only stay together if it’s in both of their best interest - self discovery) modelled itself on same sex relationships which have historically been less bound by traditions and more democratic

By recognising with more choice personal relationships inevitably become less stable, this can model same sex relationships where families have traditionally been actively created in diverse ways as “families of choice” from among friends, former lovers and biological kin

Question 52

Developing the views central to the thesis, what does Beck argue?

Answer 52

He argues we now live in a risk society where tradition has less influence on people’s lives and they have more choice

Today’s risks contrast to earlier times when roles were more fixed and people had less choice

Although the traditional picture of family life was unequal, it provided a clear, stable and predictable basis for family life by defining each members roles and responsibilities

Negotiated family - more equal less stable because individual are free to leave if their needs are not met, again producing greater family diversity

Question 53

Developing the views central to the thesis, what does Beck argue about the traditional patriarchal family?

Answer 53

Believes the traditional patriarchal family has been undermined by greater gender equality and individualism as a result contemporary families are less likely to conform to any norm but vary in relation to the wishes and expectations of their members he calls this the negotiated family

Question 54

Is there a link between a risky society and a pure relationship?

Answer 54

YES

Both conform to the idea of individual freedom

There is less influence on people’s live and they have more choice - they can decide to remain in a relationship or leave if their needs are not met

Question 55

What type of “biography” is link to a “negotiated family”?

Answer 55

“Do it yourself”

As they are less likely to conform to norms meaning that there is more freedom

Question 56

What does Beck argue about today’s uncertain society and family relationships?

Answer 56

In today’s uncertain society people turn to the family in the hope of finding security however Beck argues taht family relationships are themselves subject to greater risk and uncertainty

For this reason Beck describes the family as a “zombie category” - it appears to be alive but in reality is dead

People want it to be the haven of security in an insecure world but today’s family cannot provide this because of its instability

Question 57

Which 2 key sociologists are used by the personal life perspective (interactionist view) in relation to family diversity?

Answer 57

Smart

May

Question 58

What do sociologists who take a personal life perspective say about family diversity?

Answer 58

Agree that there is now greater family diversity but agree with Beck and Giddens’ explanation of it

They make many criticisms of the individualisation thesis

• believe the thesis exaggerates how much choice people have about family relationships - traditional norms still prevail and has influence over people
• they claim it’s inaccurate to see people as “disembedded free floating individuals” - ignores the fact that decisions and choices are made within a social context
• thesis ignores the importance of structural factors such as class inequality and patriarchy which shapes relationship and family decisions

Question 59

Which criticisms do those with the personal life perspective make of Beck and Giddens’ individualisation thesis and what does May say about it?

Answer 59

They make many criticisms of the individualisation thesis

• believe the thesis exaggerates how much choice people have about family relationships - traditional norms still prevail and has influence over people
• they claim it’s inaccurate to see people as “disembedded free floating individuals” - ignores the fact that decisions and choices are made within a social context
• thesis ignores the importance of structural factors such as class inequality and patriarchy which shapes relationship and family decisions

May claims their view is an idealised version of a white middle class man - ignore the fact not everyone has the same ability as this privileged group to exercise choice about relationships

Question 60

What view does Smart have from a person life perspective in relation to family diversity??

Answer 60

Connectedness Thesis - their alternative to individualisation thesis

Rather than seeing us as disembedded individuals with limitless choice about personal relationships she argues that we are fundamentally social beings whose choices are always made with a web of connectedness

According to this thesis we live within networks of existing relationships and interwoven personal histories and these strongly our range of options and choices in relationships

Where lives have become embedded and interwoven it becomes impossible for relationships to simply just end because it is no longer a pure relationship eg/ linked by children

Question 61

Give an example of a situation relating to the connectedness thesis?

Answer 61

After divorce gender norms generally dictate women should get custody of children

This may limit their opportunity to work full time and to form a new relationship

In contrast men have more freedom to start new relationships and second families

Question 62

Unlike Beck and Giddens who claimed that there has been a disappearance or weakening of the structures of class, gender and family what does the connectedness thesis emphasise?

Answer 62

Emphasises the role of the class and gender structures in which we are embedded which limit our choices about the kinds of relationships, identities and families we can create for ourselves

Therefore although there is a trend towards greater diversity in choice, the personal life perspective emphasises the continuing importance of structural factors such as patriarchy and class inequality and restricting peoples choices and shaping their lives

Question 63

Contrast the individualisation thesis and connectedness thesis

Answer 63

Individualisation

• we are free
• we can make our own decisions
• we can structure our own experiences individually

Connectedness

• always connected no matter a separation
• limits your choice of being free
• impossible to simply end a relationship

Question 64

In your opinion which thesis has greater validity?

Answer 64

The connectedness thesis because it is very hard to have freedom in society with the large amount of influence involved and the majority of the time most relationships don’t just simply end with no strings attached - no one is ever truly free