Theories on family diversity

Question 1

New Right Theory

Answer 1

Nuclear is only natural normal family(bc of bio differences)
-place of contentment refuge,harmony
-Diversity is damaging bc it causes anti social behaviour crime and ed failure especially lone parents(welfare)
Marriage is essential for stability while divorce undermines it

Question 2

Chester

Answer 2

F.D has been exasperated.

• most people aspire to live in a nuclear family and other family types are temporary due to family life cycle.
• argues most important change is from conventional to neo-conventional
• Conventional-1950s traditional family has segregated div of labour(breadwinner and housewife)
• Neo conventional-modern dual worker family in which both work in paid employment

Question 3

Postmodernist(Rappaport and Rappaport)

Answer 3

Nuclear is no longer main family,no family is right type.Increase represents freedom of choice.5 types of diversity(organisational,cultural,social class,life stage and generational diversity

Question 4

Postmodern-Stacey

Answer 4

Changes in family have been instigated by women as a result of taking advantage of increased equality and pursuing education and careers
Also arranged family to suit them,new family type to emerge is divorce extended where members are connected by divorce e. former daughter/mother in law

Question 5

Inducidualisation thesis

Answer 5

Giddens and Beck emphasise the importance of induvidual choice on family and relationships is know as individualisation thesis
-in the past family life and people’s roles within family were influenced by social factors such as class and gender(women expect to marry and be housewife)
Now we have greater choice and we can choose how to organise family life-to marry,have children,work etc.
Argues we are disenvedded from traditional roles.Beck says that standard biography pre set life course people used to follow,have been replaced by diy biography where we have choice

Question 6

Giddens

Answer 6

Family has been transformed by choice and equality between men and women as a result
Greater gender equality bc of feminist movement and opportunities in education
-enable a couple to choose own family structure based on needs and wants and stay together if they’re being met rather than staying together due to sense of duty/children.(pure relationship)

Question 7

Giddens(added on)

Answer 7

Sees same sex couples as leading the way towards new family types and creating more equal relationships
-bc they are less influenced by tradition which has enabled them to create relationships based on choice and creates family based on needs and wants.

Question 8

Beck

Answer 8

We live in a risk society where people have more choice but face more risks while in past people new what to expect from family life
F.D has been caused by:
-greater gender equality,greater individualism(self interest)
These changes have led to new family-negotiated family-based on gender equality and wishes of the couple
As we face more risks in society we turn to family for security but even family is not guaranteed as they can easily end.she refers to family as zombie-appears to be alive but dead bc it cannot provide security because its unstable

Question 9

Smart and may(personal life perspective)

Answer 9

Agree that diversity is happening .they criticised postmoderns because:-exaggerates how much choice individuals have in family life

• wrong to see individuals as disembedded and fully free to make choices independently from influence of wider social norms
• fails to take into account class gender and ethnicity can limit choices

Question 10

Personal life perspective(connectedness thesis)

Answer 10

Smart argues people are social beings who make decisions within a web of connectedness. Ecstasy we mice within networks of existing relationships these can influence our choices and options.
E.g-couple can divorce but still be connected brought children
Factors that affect our choices in particular are class+gender,for example women tend to be given the custody of children and may limit chance of forming new relationship

Question 11

Is FD happening?

Answer 11

Yes
-beck and giddens
-Stacey FD reflects shift to living a postmodern society
Smart and May
New right-agree live in period of diversity however threat to social order.
No(not really)
-Chester-neo conventional
-functionalism