Theories on family Diversity Flashcards
What do functionalists say about Family diversity
Parsons argues only the nuclear family is the ideal family type because it has a functional fit.
Why are New right opposed to family diversity
Nuclear family is the only normal and natural family type. this is due to the biological differences between men and women.Family diversity is damaging for society because it causes social problems such as anti-social behaviour, crime and educational failure.
Why do new right hate the Lone parent family?
harmful to society and children. They are a burden on the welfare state, single mothers lack control over their children and the absence of fathers means a lack of male role models.
Marriage is essential for creating stability, while divorce
undermines family stability.
What does Chester argue About on the topic of family diversity?
Most typical family type is nuclear even though there is an extent of family diversity, at one point in the family life cycle everyone has been through a Nuclear family. E.g lone parent will not always remain lone parent but re-marry to form a nuclear or step family. Therefore, the statistics on family structures are a snapshot – they show us the type of family people live in at one given time.
Chester and Neo conventional family
Chester argues the most important change in family life is the move from the dominance of the traditional or conventional nuclear family to the Neo-conventional family
Neo conventional means both wife and husband working in order to have a stable income.
Postmodernist theory R&R (rapoport and rapoport)
nuclear family is no longer the main family type in Britain, but that a range of family types exists. None of these families is the ‘right’ type of family and all should be accepted. The increasing family diversity represents
freedom of choice and widespread acceptance of different cultures.
According to R&R what are the 5 main types of family diversity
- Organisational Diversity-Variations in family structure,household types and patterns of kinship.
- Cultural diversity-different cultural, religious and ethnic groups have different family structures.
- Social class diversity-there are differences between middle and working class families in relation to child-rearing and adult relationships.
- Life stage diversity-Depends on family life cycle
- Generalisation diversity-older and younger generations have different attitudes and experiences of family diversity.
Postmodernist theory- Stacey
changes in the family have been instigated by
women as they have taken the advantage of increased
equality with men and pursued education and careers. Women can choose not to marry or have kids or divorce
According to Stacey what new type of family is emerging
One new type of family to emerge is the
divorce-extended family in which members are
connected to each other by divorce, e.g. former
daughter and mother in law.
Individualisation theses
in the past, family life and people’s
roles within the family were influenced by social factors
such as class and gender. For example, women were
expected to marry and become housewives.
However, today, we have greater freedom of choice and
people can choose how they organise their family life
Post modernist theory- Giddens
Family has been transformed by greater choice and equality between men and women. This is the result of contraception and equal rights movements which have led men to respect women as their equal. This allows for a pure relationship as it allows the couple to be more stable as it is the result of true love rather than just having a family for means of reproduction or tradition.
Post modernist- Giddens and Watson (same sex couples)
Giddens sees same sex couples as leading the way towards new family types and creating more democratic and equal relationships.This is because they are much less influenced by tradition, which has enabled them to create relationships based on choice.
Watson who found that same sex couples create supportive families of choice from their friends, former lovers and biological kin and that these function in the same way as traditional kinship networks,
Postmodernist theory- Beck
We live in a risk society in which people have more choice, but also face more risks.Family diversity is caused by greater gender equality and greater individualism. Because of this a new type of family has been formed the negotiated family – based on gender equality and the wishes of the couple.
According to Beck what does Zombie family mean?
as we face even more risks in society, we tend to reach out to family members but even at times our family members will not help us as relationships can sometimes end. Therefore it is called a zombie family-it appears to be alive, but is in fact dead as it can’t provide security because it is unstable.
Personal life perspective- Smart and may
agree with postmodernists that diversity is happening but not their explanation of it
Why do Smart and May criticise postmodernists
- individualisation thesis exaggerates how much choice individuals have in relation to family life.
2.individualisation thesis is wrong to see individuals as
disembedded and totally free to make choices independently from the influence of wider social norms.
3.individualisation thesis fails to take into account the
extent to which social factors such as class, gender and
ethnicity can limit the choices individuals have when it
comes to family life.
What is the connectedness thesis
Smart argues that people are social beings who make
their decisions within a web of connectedness. This is
because we live within networks of existing
relationships. For example, a couple can choose to divorce, but they will still be connected through their children and may have to see each other even if they don’t want to.
Is family diversity happening and if so which sociologists agree/disagree
Yes: beck and giddens Stacey Smart and May New right(but its a threat to society)
No:
Chester
Functionalism
Is family diversity good to society and if so which sociologists agree/disagree
yes: No:
R&R New right
giddens Functionalists
beck
Stacey
Smart and May
Is family diversity good to society and if so which sociologists agree/disagree
yes: No:
R&R New right
giddens Functionalists
beck
Stacey
Smart and May
