sociology revision october

Question 1

What is polygamy?

Answer 1

more than two people in a sexual relationship at one time.

Question 2

What is serial monogamy?

Answer 2

Having one monogamous relationship at a time, but multiple partners throughout a lifetime due to death, divorce or a choice.

Question 3

What is monogamy?

Answer 3

where two people are in a relationship and there is no more than two people within it. (sex with one person relationship)

Question 4

define the family

Answer 4

A group of people related by kinship ties and civil relationships

Question 5

why do sociologists have trouble defining ‘the family’?

Answer 5

given the range and diversity of family structures and relationships defining ‘the family’ can be challenging as in the past, the nuclear family was the basic and central family structure. However, today the definition is challenged by a wide variety of alternative family structures that exist.

Question 6

define the household

Answer 6

If a household consists of a group of people and key characteristics of it such as the sharing the bills, facilities, meals and chores etc it is classed as a household.

Question 7

why is a household different to a family?

Answer 7

A household is different from a family as it can include individuals living alone and a group of people living together without necessarily being related, married or committed to each other.

Question 8

identify the patterns and trends in marriage

Answer 8

• fewer people are marrying
• remarriages are increasing
• people are marrying later
• civil ceremonies have increased

Question 9

identify reasons for the trend that fewer people are marrying

Answer 9

• more socially acceptable to live in alternatives to marriage e.g. cohabitation, civil partnership or stay single. (as stigma has decreased around not marrying).
• having sex outside of marriage is more socially acceptable
• Secularism - declining influence of religion and the Uk society becoming more secular.
• changing role of women - women are more financially independent and secure compared to the past
• Less expectations for women to marry (women are more career-focused)
• Cost Implications - wedding and marriage costs
• Marrying is no longer needed to have a child
• Marriage is not seen as a necessity (seen more as a patriarchal institution)
• Divorce rates are high

Question 10

identify reasons for the trend of remarriages increasing

Answer 10

• Remarriages / divorces are less stigmatised thus more people are remarrying as it is socially acceptable to do so.
• Declining influence of religion and the increasing trend of secularisation in the Uk society
• serial monogamy is seen as a socially acceptable
• Individuals feel less expected to stay in a marriage for kids.
• Ageing population - people marry later and live longer

Question 11

identify reasons for the trend of people marrying later

Answer 11

• More people are more career driven / orientated as individuals want to invest in their education or careers e.g. post-graduate, good career.
• People tend to cohabit then marry - almost like a ‘trial marriage’ to see if they are compatible and to remove any weak relationships
• Cost - people want to save for marriage and wedding costs
• more of a norm to marry later and people tend to follow this established norm.
• no rush to get married at a younger age as people want to wait for the ‘right one’

Question 12

identity reasons for the trend of civil ceremonies have increased

Answer 12

• greater openness - people from same-sex relationships prefer civil ceremonies when marrying.
• There are more available venues / locations for civil ceremonies
• Secularism - decreasing influence of religion means there are less people having religious ceremonies hence an increase in civil ceremonies

Question 13

What is Cohabitation?

Answer 13

Cohabitation is when a couple live together in one household but are not legally married. Cohabiting couples do not have the same legal protection as married couples

Question 14

Identify reasons why people may cohabit

Answer 14

• cohabitation as a permanent alternative to marriage
• cohabitation as a prelude to marriage: a ‘trial marriage’
  to screen/filter out weaker relationships

Question 15

identify reasons for the trend of an increase in divorce

Answer 15

• fewer people cohabitated in past compared to now as people could not check if they were compatible with their partners before marriage
• Secularism - Declining influence of religion means people will not stay together for religion (compared to the past where people seen marriage as something sacred).
• individuals felt a pressure to marry at a younger age
• Women are more financially independent compared to the past
• law / legislation makes it easier to divorce.

Question 16

identity the divorce trends

Answer 16

the fall of divorces is consistent with a decline in the number of marriages this may be because:

• there is a increasing number of couples choosing to cohabit rather than enter into marriage
• cohabitation has increased in the recent years
• the age which people first marry has been increasing and those who marry when they are older have a lower risk of divorce

Question 17

What is an ‘empty shell’ marriage?

Answer 17

Empty shell marriages are those in which two partners stay together in name only. There is no love or intimacy between them.

Question 18

Explain how the 1969 divorce reform act reflects a more liberal view of divorce

Answer 18

DRA reflects a more liberal view as people no longer had to prove an matrimonial offence and could simply divorce if their marriage has failed

Question 19

Identify reasons for an increase in divorce

Answer 19

• rising expectations of marriage - people have higher standards from their partners and are less likely to tolerate on a unfulfilling relationship.
• changing social attitudes - divorce is no longer associated with shame and stigma and is increasingly accepted as a fact of life - divorce has become more normalised.
• Secularisation - people no longer have social or religious values keeping them together in a marriage
• changing role of women - women are more financially secure and independent compared to the past.
• Modernity and individualism - individuals feel freer to pursue their own self- interest thus meaning individuals become more unwilling to remain with a partner out of a sense of duty, tradition or for the sake of the children thus resulting in a higher divorce rate.
• changes in divorce legislation - changes in divorce law have generally made it easier and cheaper to end marriages but this in itself is not a cause of increase in divorce. Legal changes often reflect other changes in society.

Question 20

What would functionalists argue about the increase in divorce and higher expectations?

Answer 20

Functionalists argue that the increase in divorce is indicative and reflective of higher expectations attached to marriage rather than the declining social significance of marriage.

• They also point to the continuing popularity of marriage and remarriage

Question 21

What would feminists argue about the increase in divorce and changing role of women ?

Answer 21

Feminists note that women’s expectations of marriage have radically changed and this reflects their improved status in society and why more women are divorcing.

Question 22

What is the sociological view of the new right on the meaning of higher divorce rates

Answer 22

The new right see the high divorce rate as undesirable because it undermines the traditional nuclear family. In their view, divorce creates an underclass of welfare-dependent female lone parents and deprives males of the adult male role model that they need

Question 23

What is the sociological view of feminists on the meaning of higher divorce rates

Answer 23

Feminists disagree, as they see high divorce rates as a desirable because it shows that women are breaking free from the oppression of the patriarchal nuclear family.

Question 24

What is the sociological view of post-modernists on the meaning of higher divorce rates

Answer 24

Post modernists see a high divorce rate as giving individuals the freedom to choose to end a relationship when it no longer meets their needs. They see it as a cause of greater family diversity.

Question 25

What is the sociological view of functionalists on the meaning of higher divorce rate

Answer 25

Functionalists argue that a higher divorce rate does not necessarily prove that marriage as a social institution is under threat. It simply means that people have higher expectations of marriage today. The high rate of remarriage shows people continuing commitment to the idea of marriage.

Question 26

What is the sociological view of interactionists (personal life perspective) on the meaning of higher divorce rates

Answer 26

interactionists aim to understand the meaning that divorce has to the individual and recognise it varies from being positive and necessary to a negative emotional development. They accept that divorce can cause problems for individuals involved, but recognise that it has become normalised and that family life can adapt to it without disintegrating - it is just a transition in the life course

Question 27

identify the trends of childbearing

Answer 27

• the increase in the number of children born outside of marriage
• women are having children later
• women are having fewer children
• more women are remaining childless

Question 28

identify reasons for the trend of women having children later

Answer 28

• individuals choose to focus on their education and their careers (prioritise their careers)
• people choose to cohabit then marry then have children (so individuals know they are compatible with their partners e.g. a ‘trial marriage’
• Contraception - it is more socially acceptable and a social norm to use contraception as way to control when you would like to have children

Question 29

identify reasons for the trend women are having fewer children

Answer 29

• cost implications - raising children can be very expensive as you have to invest in education, clothes etc.
• No longer need children for survival - in the past, people had loads of children as the infant mortality rate was very high. However, due to the advancement of medicine the infant mortality rate is low so there is no need for many children
• Secularism - Declining influence of religious and social values means individuals do not feel the need to have children for religious reasons thus women would not feel the need for so many children.
• Changing role of women - The role of women in society has changed since the past as in the past women were expected to have many children and look after them. However, today women have the freedom to choose if they would like children and most today choose to pursue their own ambitions and careers first

Question 30

identify reasons for the trend of more women remaining childless

Answer 30

• Contraception - allows people to choose when they would like children
• Changing role of women - women do not feel pressured to have children and it is socially acceptable to not have children

Question 31

identify reasons for the trend of the increase number of children born outside of marriage

Answer 31

• cohabitation - people cohabit as an alternative to marriage as perhaps some individual may not see marriage as a necessity or view marriage as an institution as outdated
• It is less stigmatised and socially acceptable to have children outside of marriage

Secularism - the declining influence of religion and the increasing trend of secularisation means people may not have the religious or social values in wanting to have children after being married.

Question 32

What is a reconstituted family?

Answer 32

A reconstituted family is when two families join together after one or both partners have divorced their previous partners. (born out of post-divorce parenting). This family option can sometimes be referred to as the blended family or step family

• These families are mainly born out of post-divorce parenting where divorced people or single parents remarry and at least one partner has a child or children from a previous relationship.

Question 33

what is a bi-nuclear family?

Answer 33

a family in which separation or divorce of the adult partners, occurs, but both parents continue to assume a high level of childbearing / co-parenting responsibility at two separate households

Question 34

What is co-parenting?

Answer 34

where two parents who have divorced / separated both share the responsibility of parenting their child/children,

Question 35

what is a single/one/lone person household?

Answer 35

The single-person household is a household that contains one person who lives alone.

Question 36

identify the trends contributing to the increase in single person households

Answer 36

• increase in separation and divorce
• decline in the numbers marrying
• people marrying later
• ageing population
• people deliberating choosing to live alone ‘creative singlehood’

Question 37

identify key trends in single parent families/ lone parent households

Answer 37

• SPFs are gendered - 92% of lone parents were women with dependent children.
• women are more likely to take the main caring responsibilities for any children when relationships break and become lone parents - This reflects a widespread belief that women by nature are suited towards expressive or nurturing roles. As a result usually divorce courts rule in favour of mothers and give custody to the mother.
• Men are less willing than women to give up work to care for their children
• most SPFs emerge as a result of divorce, or by choice

Question 38

Why are single parent families considered a transitionary family type?

Answer 38

This is because SPFs are not necessarily a permanent state but a transitionary one as most families do not stay SPFs permanently and tend to remarry or get a new partner thus form/ transition to a new family type

Question 39

What is a extended family (definition)

Answer 39

Any group of kin (people related by blood, marriage or adoption) extended beyond the nuclear family;

The family may be extended vertically e.g grandparents or horizontally (e.g aunts, cousins) or both

Question 40

What is the Classical Extended Family?

Answer 40

The classical extended family is a family that lived together or in very close proximity

Question 41

What is the dispersed extended family?

Answer 41

Dispersed extended families are where relatives are geographically separated but maintain contact through visits and phone calls etc

this is an example of modern families today.

Question 42

What is the modified extended family?

Answer 42

Modified extended families describe a coalition/combination of nuclear families in a state of partial dependence - this differentiates from the type of family structure of both classic EF and the NF.

They are only partially dependent of each other and can live in different locations while still having the roles of family and staying connected in each others life.

Question 43

What type of support can extended families provide?

Answer 43

Practical and emotional

Question 44

What are types of practical support?

Answer 44

Practical -
childcare, financial assistance and transport.
(families have EF for economics benefits)

Emotional -
childcare, provide comfort and resolve problems and technological advances to keep in contact

Question 45

What does sociologists Finch argue about the nature of family?

Answer 45

Finch argues that the nature of all family, relationships are largely determined by gender, ethnicity, economics, generation and region.

Question 46

What is the Beanpole family?

Answer 46

The beanpole family is a particular contemporary type of extended family described by sociologist Brannen as ‘long and thin’. It is extended vertically through 3-4 generations but not horizontally

A Beanpole family is a multi-generational family that is long and thin with few aunts, uncles and grandparents.

Question 47

What demographic changes has contributed to the family type of beanpole

Answer 47

two demographic changes:

• increased life expectancy - more surviving grandparents and great grandparents
• smaller family sizes meaning people have fewer siblings and thus fewer horizontal ties.

Question 48

What has contributed to the greater ethnic diversity in the UK

Answer 48

immigration

Question 49

Which ethnic group have a higher proportion of lone parent families?

Answer 49

Black Caribbean and Black African have a higher proportion of lone families and over a half of all families with dependent children headed by a black person were lone parent families

Question 50

Why is there a high rate of female headed lone parent black families?

Answer 50

The high rate has sometimes been seen of evidence of family disorganisation that can be traced back to slavery or more recently, to high rates of unemployment among black males.

As well as this, under slavery when couples were sold separately, children stayed with their mother. It is argued that this established a pattern of family life that persists today.

It is also 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 51

What does the sociologist Mirza and Reynolds argue about the cause of the high rate of female headed lone parent families in Black families?

Answer 51

Mirza argues that the higher rate of lone parent families among black families are not a result of disorganization but rather reflects the high value that black women place on independence.

Additionally, Reynolds argues that the statistics are misleading, in that many apparently ‘lone’ parents are in stable, supportive but non-cohabiting relationships

Question 52

Which ethnic group tends to be larger than other ethnic groups?

Answer 52

Asian families.

Question 53

What type of households are a typical asian family household?

Answer 53

multi-generational household including three 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.

Question 54

Why do asian households have larger families?

Answer 54

Asian households have larger families due to the fact Asian families have a high proportion and high fertility rates compared to other groups in the population.

Additionally, Asian households tend to live in extended family units this is due to fact that extended families are valued in Asian cultures. e.g. this can be seen when Asian families would migrate to Britain extended families would provide support for family members who had migrated by sharing a house together

Question 55

what type of family is an asian household?

Answer 55

Today most Asian households are nuclear, relatives often live nearby reflecting the importance of kinship networks.

Question 56

Ethnic families trends

Answer 56

• more single parent families in Black Caribbean and African families
• More extended family units in Asian families
• Fewer divorces in Asian families
• Earlier marriages in Asian families
• higher fertility childbearing rates in Asian families
• Higher rate of unemployment in Black Males
• less cohabiting couples in asian families
• Culture

Question 57

name important divorce legislation

Answer 57

the divorce reform act 1969 - liberalisation of divorce legislation
civil partnership act 2004 - allowed the same legal dissolution of a civil partnership on the same grounds as for marriage - irretrievable breakdown (same sex) - gave the same rights of a heterosexual couple to a same sex couple
2007 appeal court ruling - 50/50 split of assets - changing role of women
2014 same sex marriage act

Question 58

identify three key factors to why the conservatives (new right) were critical of single parent families

Answer 58

Expensive - There’s either one or no income therefore this type of family is disproportionally more likely to be dependent on benefits. This would be undesirable for the conservatives who do not support things such as welfare and the dependency on the state

Lacking Moral Responsibility -
A- Content to live off the state rather than being self sufficient and independent
B- They represent the breakdown of the traditional nuclear family / many children are born outside of marriage or it reflects a marital breakdown

Dysfunctional -

• They are critical of single parent families as many children are brought up and are denied two parental role models
• They are particularly concerned about the number of young boys who lack a father figure and believe this will lead to behaviour problems.

Question 59

What does new right commentator Murray say about the growth of spfs and the conservatives

Answer 59

Murray and many right wing commentators see SPFs as a social problem linked to rising levels of crime, delinquency, educational under-achievement etc. Murray saw the growth of SPFs as resulting from an over generous welfare state rewarding irresponsible behaviour. Therefore, the conservatives set up child support agency in 1993 which was designed to reduce the number of spfs by stressing the financial responsibility of parents by enforcing absent parents to financially support their children - so parents would think twice before leaving their family.

Question 60

What does sociologist Cashmore (1985) say about SPFs

Answer 60

Cashmore questions the assumption that children brought up in single parent families are worse off than those brought up by two parents or nuclear family. This presupposes that both parents are work, are on a good salary which is often not the case and it is often preferable for a child to live in one caring and stable household with a caring parent than live in a toxic household

Question 61

What does sociologist Morgan (1994) say about SPFS

Answer 61

Morgan argues that it is dangerous to make generalisations of the effects of living in an SPF as this type of family is very diverse and is varied and most available evidence suggests that children do just as well

Question 62

What does sociologist Willmott say about extended families

Answer 62

Willmott argues that in the main where ef structures continue to exist they are ‘dispersed extended families’.

Question 63

identify types of diversity

Answer 63

• cultural diversity
• life-stage diversity
• organisational diversity
• generational diversity
• social class diversity

Question 64

What does sociologist Rapoport say about diversity today

Answer 64

Rapoport sees diversity as central to today. They claim it is the norm and serves people’s needs, rather than causing family decline.

Question 65

What is cultural diversity?

Answer 65

Cultural diversity is caused by migration. - ethnic groups have different family structures e.g more children, larger families, multi-generational families

Question 66

What is life-stage diversity?

Answer 66

Life-stage diversity is when through an individuals life course they are likely to experience a variety of different structures, e.g childless couple, parents with young children, retired couples, widow etc

Question 67

What is organisational diversity?

Answer 67

Organisational diversity is different ways of organising the household e.g single or dual earners and/or joint or segregated conjugal roles etc

Question 68

What is generational diversity?

Answer 68

Generational diversity depends on the era in which an individual is raised, they may have different views towards different household structures: attitudes to cohabitation, divorce, SPFS, same-sex relationship etc

Question 69

What is social class diversity?

Answer 69

Social class diversity: the income of a family can influence its structure, e.g middle class women pursuing careers may choose to have children later, class differences in child-rearing practices etc

Question 70

What do sociologists Eversley and Bonnerjea say about family types

Answer 70

Eversley and Bonnerjea also highlight how family types may also be linked to geographical location and local influences. They identity six different types of area which are connected to different types of family organisation

Question 71

What do some sociologists say about diversity and plurality and what do sociologists Oakely and Thorne say in response?

Answer 71

Some sociologists may argue that despite the increased family diversity and plurality there is a strong and powerful ideology which represents the nuclear family as the idealised norm and the typical family type.

However sociologist Oakley and Thorne disagree and 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 and obscures the diversity and plurality of contemporary family life. They claim the ideology of the nuclear family is misleading and stereotypical

Question 72

Trends that contribute to family and household diversity and plurality

Answer 72

• increase in divorce
• secularisation
• cohabitation
• same sex couples
• increase in single parent families
• fewer people having children
• bi nuclear families
• co-parenting
• increase in reconstituted families
• decrease in marriage

some modernist social commentators suggests that the institution of marriage and by implication the family are under threat as a consequence of these trends.

Question 73

How do functionalists view family diversity and plurality?

Answer 73

Functionalists have a preference for the nuclear family and place a high value on it.

• They see the nuclear family as uniquely suited to meeting the needs of modern society and are likely to consider other family types to be dysfunctional or deviant
• However, functionalists do acknowledge diverse family trends and structure they argue that the changes to the family have been actually been minor and the basic features of family life remain remarkably unchanged.

Question 74

How does the new right view family diversity and plurality?

Answer 74

The new right adopt a conservative and anti-feminist perspective and are firmly opposed to family diversity. They hold the view that there is only one ideal/correct/normal/natural family the male as the breadwinner and the female in the mother/housewife role - which they see as natural. They see family diversity as a product of family breakdown which leads to a lack of discipline, educational failure, crime and a dependency culture

Question 75

What type of family is the new right most critical of?

Answer 75

The new right are mainly critical of lone parent families and claim that the collapse of relationships between cohabiting couples is the main cause of an increase in lone families

Question 76

How does feminists view family diversity and plurality?

Answer 76

Feminists see the conventional nuclear family as based patriarchal oppression and the fundamental cause of gender inequality. They are critical of the new right and 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. They like the changing patterns of marriage, cohabitation, divorce and plurality of household types which are most common in contemporary Britain.

Question 77

What do postmodernists argue about family diversity

Answer 77

Post modernists emphasise family diversity and argue that greater diversity and choice brings with it advantage as it gives individuals greater freedom to plot their own life course - to choose what kind of family and personal relationships that meet their needs.

Question 78

What does sociologist stacey argue on family diversity and the changing role of women

Answer 78

Stacey argues that greater freedom and choice has particularly benefitted women, who she regards as being the main agents of changes in the family. It has enabled them to free themselves from patriarchal oppression and to shape their family arrangements to meet their needs.

Question 79

What is life course ?

Answer 79

The life course refers to the social phases we progress through, throughout our lives. Individuals can control their own life choices and routes today instead of following societal expectation (however this is not always the case for everyone)

Question 80

What does sociologist Morgan say about the concept of family

Answer 80

Morgan argues that it is pointless making large scale generalisations about ‘the family’ as if it were a single thing. Rather a family is simply whatever arrangements those involved choose to call their family. He prefers the concept of family practice rather than family structures as a way of describing how we construct our life course and relationships. In his view, families are not concrete ‘things’ or structures - they are simply what people actually do - the routine actions through which we create our sense of ‘being a family member’ - such as feeding the children or doing the diy.

However, he does recognise that while life course and family practice are the actions of individuals, they take place in the wider context of wider social structures and norms which influence the beliefs we have about our rights, responsibilities and obligations within the family. Which may still exert influence over family members expectations and actions. e.g gender norms and difference in job opportunities and social policy.

Question 81

What does Morgan mean by family practices?

Answer 81

Family practices describe how we construct our life and course and relationships. In his view, families are not concrete ‘things’ or structures - they are simply what people actually do - the routines actions through which we create our sense of ‘being a family member’ such as a feeding the kids or doing diy.

Question 82

How do sociologists explore how people create their own lives and families

Answer 82

through life course analysis.

Question 83

What is life course analysis?

Answer 83

life course analysis usually involves in depth unstructured interviews with family members to explore the meanings and understand the choices people make about family life and relationships.

Sociologist Hareven uses life course analysis to understand family life. This approach starts from the idea that there is flexibility and variation in people’s family lives - in choices and decisions they make and in the timing and sequence of the events and turning points in their lives.

Question 84

What is individualisation thesis?

Answer 84

Giddens and Becks has been influenced postmodernist ideas which explore the effects of the increasingly individual choice upon families and relationships. Their views have become known as the individualisation thesis. The thesis argues that in the past, people’s lives were defined by fixed roles that largely prevented people from choosing their own life course. For example, everyone was expected to marry and take up their appropriate gender role. By contrast, individuals in today have fewer certainties or fixed roles in follow, Therefore, we have become dis-embedded from traditional roles and structures leaving us with more freedom to choose how we lead our lives. Beck puts it the ‘standard’ biography or life course that people followed in the past has been replaced by the ‘do it yourself biography’ that individuals have constructed for themselves - this has huge implications for family relationships and family diversity.

Question 85

contrast a ‘standard’ to a ‘do-it-yourself biography’

Answer 85

the ‘standard’ biography is the life course that people followed in the past influenced by societal expectations and norms e.g traditional values or marrying at a young age then having kids etc whereas ‘do it yourself’ biography means the life course and goals that individuals today must construct for themselves

Question 86

What does sociologist giddens argue about family and marriage being transformed as a result of greater choice and equality?

Answer 86

Giddens argues in the recent decades family 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 (due to feminism). He sees the ‘pure relationship’ of a typical of late modern society which is no longer together held together by norms, religions and laws. It’s key features is that exists to solely to satisfy each partners needs and therefore is likely to survive only so long as both partners think it is in their own interest to do so. Therefore, individuals are free to choose to enter and leave relationships as they see fit. Relationships become a part of the process of the individuals self- discovery or self-identity: trying different relationships becomes a way of establishing ‘who we are’

However, Giddens also recognises that with more choice, personal relationships inevitably become less stable and in turn produce greater family diversity.

Question 87

What is meant a ‘pure relationship’

Answer 87

A pure relationship is when individuals decide to carry on maintaining their relationship because it meets their emotional and sexual needs. The relationship will only carry on being successful as long as the relationship carries on meeting the individual’s partner’s needs and they benefit from it.

(relationship not held together by norms, religions and laws)

Question 88

What is a risk society?

Answer 88

sociologist beck argues that we now live in a ‘risk’ society where tradition has less influence on people’s lives and they have more choice.

Question 89

today risks in contras to the risks of the past

Answer 89

Today’s risks contrast to earlier times when roles were more fixed and people have less choice in their lives. For example, people were expected to marry, to have children, to have clear gender roles, to stay together etc. Although, this traditional picture of family life was unequal, it provided a clear, stable and predictable basis for family life by defining each member’s role and responsibilities.

Question 90

What does beck believe about the traditional patriarchal family?

Answer 90

Beck believes that 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. However, whilst most equal it is less stable. This is because individuals are free to leave if their needs are not met - again, producing greater family diversity.

Question 91

What is the negotiated family?

Answer 91

Negotiated families do not conform to the traditional family norm, but vary according to the wishes and expectations of their members, who decided what is best for them by discussion. They enter the relationship on an equal basis.

Question 92

What two trends have undermined the trend of the nuclear family?

Answer 92

Greater Gender Equality – which has challenged male domination in all spheres of life. Women now expect equality both at work and in marriage.
Greater individualism – where people’s actions are influenced more by calculations of their own self-interest that by a sense of obligation to others.

Question 93

What does beck argue about family relationships due to the great amount of choice

Answer 93

Beck argues that family relationships are themselves are now subject to greater risk and uncertainty than ever before. For this reason, beck describes the family as a ‘zombie category’: it appears to be alive but in reality it is dead. People want the family to be a haven of security in an unsecure world but today’s family cannot provide this because of its instability.

Question 94

sociologists for personal life perspective

Answer 94

SMART and MAY who agrees there is now greater family diversity but they disagree with beck and giddens explanation and individualisation thesis.

Question 95

list criticisms for individualisation thesis:

Answer 95

1 - they believe the thesis exaggerates how much choice people have on family relationships - traditional norms still prevail and impact on many people.

2- secondly, they claim the thesis wrongly sees people as dis-embedded, ‘free-floating’, independent individuals. It ignores the fact that decisions and choices about personal relationships are made within a social context.

3- The thesis ignores the importance of structural factors such as social class inequalities and patriarchal gender norms in limiting and shaping relationship choices

Question 96

What does sociologist MAY say about the individualisation thesis?

Answer 96

May claims beck and giddens view is ‘an idealised version of a white middle-class man’ they ignore the fact that not everyone has the same ability as this privileged group to exercise choice about relationships

Question 97

What is connectedness thesis?

Answer 97

sociologists for the personal life perspective propose an alternative to individualisation thesis. SMART calls this the ‘connectedness thesis’. Rather than see us as dis-embedded individuals with limitless choice about personal relationships. she argues that we are fundamentally social beings whose choices are always made ‘within a web of connectedness’. According, to this thesis we live within networks of existing relationships and interwoven personal histories and these strongly influence our range of options and choices in relationships.

As SMART states, ‘where lives have become interwoven and embedded, it becomes impossible for relationships to simply end because it is no longer a ‘pure relationship’. For example, parents who separate remain linked by their children, often against their wishes.

Question 98

What is the contrast of the individualisation thesis and connectedness thesis

Answer 98

Beck and Giddens who claims in their individualisation thesis that there has been a disappearance or weakening of the structures of class, gender and family. In contrast, the connectedness thesis 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.

for example - after a divorce, gender norms generally dictate that women should have custody of the children, which may limit their opportunity to form new relationships. By contrast, men are free to start new relationships and second families they are generally better paid than women and this gives them greater freedom and choice in relationships. Furthermore, the relative powerlessness of women and children as compared to men means that they often lack freedom to choose and so for example, may remain trapped in abusive relationships.

May argues that these structures are not disappearing they are simply being re-shaped - therefore, women do not have it all.

Question 99

what thesis is the post-modern and which is personal life?

Answer 99

individualisation thesis - post modernism

connectedness thesis - personal life perspective

Question 100

What does sociologists BEAUJOUAN and NI BHROCHAIN believe about the rise of cohabitation?

Answer 100

BEAUJOUAN AND NI BHROCHAIN believe the rise of cohabitation in the uk is probably the reason for the decrease in the divorce rate in the recent years is due to the fact that cohabitation tends to screen/ filter out weaker relationships as couples have the opportunity to test their relationship through a trial period before committing to marriage.

Question 101

What do sociologists Allan and Crow say about reconstituted families?

Answer 101

Allan and Crow say reconstituted families may face particular problems of divided loyalties such as contact with non-resident parent.

Question 102

What does McCarthy argue about greater diversity in reconstituted families?

Answer 102

He argues that there is greater family diversity among reconstituted families - some have tensions while others have no more tensions that intact nuclear families.

Question 103

Why does Ferry and Smith say reconstituted families are at a greater risk of poverty?

Answer 103

Ferry and smith found that reconstituted families are at a greater risk of poverty because often there are more children to support and often the stepfather may have to support children from a previous relationship.

Question 104

What is stonewall ?

Answer 104

stonewall is a campaign group that has worked hard to ensure all lesbian, gay, bisexual people have the same legal rights to parenthood as everyone else because they know that gay people are just as capable of creating loving and having supportive families and they want to make sure every LGB person has the option to parent if they wish to regardless of sexual orientation