part 2 sociologists

Question 1

what sociologists take about the reasons for the changes in patterns of childbearing?

Answer 1

SUE SHARPE:
- changing ambitions/aspirations of women

WILKINSON:
- the gender quake (more women in traditionally male dominated jobs, so earn similar to men)

HAKIM:
- there are people who are voluntarily childless

Question 2

what sociologists talk about the reasons for the rise in the divorce rate?

Answer 2

FLETCHER:
- people have higher expectations of marriage
- the ideology of romantic love has increased where marriage is now more about love rather than financial stability and security

BECK AND GIDDENS:
- they argue that traditional values such as staying with one partner for one’s whole life has declined
- people are now free to pursue self independence

Question 3

what sociologists talk about the increase in cohabitation?

Answer 3

BECK:
- “we live in a risk society”

CHESTER:
- cohabitation is part of the process of marriage
- individuals aspire to be married and be in a nuclear family

Question 4

what sociologists talk about the reasons for the rise in lone parent families?

Answer 4

SHARPE:
- women no longer need support/reliance

HASKEY:
- single by choice

CASHMORE:
- working class women who earn less now have the power to leave abusive relationships due to the introduction f the welfare state

GIDDENS:
- people are now looking for the “pure relationship”, so will break up if needs are not met (doesnt always have to be romantic)

Question 5

what sociologists talk about family diversity?

Answer 5

THE RAPAPORTS:
- there are 5 types of family diversity

MADOOD:
- in contemporary society, younger gen often clash with younger gen as younger gen are likely to rebel against traditional values such as marrying outside culture

CHAMBERLAIN:
- relatives play an important role in afro caribbean families than in white british families
- siblings often play a big role in bringing up their younger siblings

Question 6

what postmodernists sociologists talk abut family diversity and how its increased?

Answer 6

CORAL SMART (personal life perspective):
- conducted a study on 54 same sex couples in a civil partnership
- found that 12 couples saw it as a way of making their relationship more real in front of others

STACEY:
- found that alot of women rejected traditional housewife role, focusing on their education and their careers
- women would divorce as they had higher expectations

GIDDENS (late modernity):
- individualisation thesis argues that traditional social structure, such as class, gender and family have lost much influence over us
- no longer the norm to marry and follow gender roles