Topic 6 - Family diversity

Question 1

What has happened to family diversity? [2]

Answer 1

Increased hugely, shift away from traditional nuclear family

FN & NR don’t like this, arguing nuclear family = only functional family for society

Question 2

Family Diversity - Parsons

Answer 2

Rejects diversity and believes nuclear family is the only family functional for society
- Biological gendered roles = important

Question 3

Family Diversity - The New Right

Answer 3

Agrees with Parsons that the nuclear family is best

- the lone parent family type leads to delinquency & dependency upon state

Question 4

Family Diversity - Rapoports & Rapoports

Answer 4

Diversity = positive response to people’s needs & wishes
5 types of diversity e.g.

Organizational, Cultural, Life-stage, Social class & Generational

e.g. Generational diversity as ‘Boomers’ and ‘Milleneals’ may be at different stages and experiences
Cultural diversity as diversity brings about increased cultures

Question 5

Family Diversity - Chester

Answer 5

The nuclear family remains dominant, although there has been an increase in diversity
- Change from the Conventional family (conjugal) -> Neo-conventional (symmetrical roles)

Question 6

Postmodernism, Giddens - Family Diversity [2]

Answer 6

Giddens
Society has become ‘disembedded’ from traditional family structures, leaving us free to choose how we live our lives

-> has led to ‘pure relationships’ - one that exists solely to satisfy each partners needs.

Question 7

Family Diversity - Personal Life Perspective

Answer 7

Smart believes that we are not disembedded individuals, but we make decisions about relationships within a ‘web of connectedness’.
Our personal histories influence choices strongly in relationships

Question 8

Bauman (Postmodernist)

Answer 8

‘Liquid love’ - based on consumer transactions (what people can gain from a relationship) rather than stability, which led to greater insecurity from relationships -> growing preference for flexible relationships over committed ones

Showcased by increase in divorce (42%)

Question 9

Beck (Postmodernist)

Answer 9

(Beck) - Greater ‘risk society’ means that relationships no longer founded on economic support but rather emotional needs

This has brought about the ‘negotiated family’

Question 10

Name 2 ways in which globalisation and migration adds to family diversity in the UK

Answer 10

• More Black-African families may lead to an increase in L.P families, whilst S.E Asian = extended
• Globalisation has led to feminisation of migration (there are problems unique to females e.g. low paid employment, sex trafficking, traditional patriarchal relationships)