Topic 6: Family Diversity Flashcards
Functionalist perspective on modernism and the nuclear family
What is the functionalist perspective on modernism and the nuclear family (use sociologist) 1. P
Parsons - believes that the nuclear family is the best family type as it provides the best for primary socialisation. Because the nuclear family is able to perform these functions it is the family type that is best suited to modern society ‘functionally fit’. Other family types are dysfunctional, abnormal and deviant as they are less able to perform the functions required of the family.
New Rights perspective on modernism and the nuclear family
What is the New Rights perspective on modernism and the nuclear family
The New Right - oppose family diversity e.g. lone parent families as it causes social problems. They believe that the nuclear family is natural and based on biological differences between men and women.
New Rights perspective on modernism and the nuclear family
Why don’t the New Right like lone parent families?
Lone-parent families leave boys without an adult male role model, resulting in educational failure, delinquency and social instability. Sewell (2009) - no father figure -leads to behavioural problems in adolescents as they haven’t been taught how to behave (men instil the role of being firm, fair, respectful and non-abusive discipline).
The New Rights perspective on the cohabitation vs marriage
What is the New Rights perspective on the cohabitation vs marriage 1. B
Benson (2006) - found that the rate of family breakdown was much higher in cohabiting couples (20%), compared with 6% among married couples therefore being more stable which is better for socialisation.
Criticism of the New Rights perspective on the nuclear family e.g. Feminists 1. O
Feminist: Oakley (1997) - the New Right assumes that husbands and wives’ roles are fixed by biology whereas cross-cultural studies show great variation in the roles men and women perform within the family such as men being more domestic and doing more housework.
Feminists argue that the conventional nuclear family favoured by the New Right is based on the patriarchal oppression of women and is a crucial cause of gender inequality. It prevents women working, keeps them financially dependent on men
The Neo-conventional family:
What is the Traditional and Neo-conventional family (use sociologist) 1. C
Chester (1985) - argues there is a move the traditional nuclear family to the ‘neo-conventional family’.
The Traditional/Conventional Family – (declining) the Traditional nuclear family with ‘segregated roles’ e.g male breadwinner and female homemaker.
The Neo-Conventional Family (the new norm) – a dual-earner family in which both spouses go out to work.
The Neo-conventional family:
How can it be argued that the nuclear family is still the most dominant family type (use sociologist) 1. C
Chester (1985) argues that although many people are not part of a nuclear family at any one time most were part of a nuclear family or will be.
e.g. Most adults marry and have children. Most children are raised by their two birth parents.
e.g. Cohabitation has increased, but for most couples it is a temporary phase before marrying. Most couples get married if they have children.
Post modernism and family diversity:
What are post-modernists views on the society
In postmodern society, there is no dominant, stable family structure e.g the nuclear family.
Instead, family structures have many different types and people have more choice in their lifestyles, personal relationships and family structures.
Post modernism and family diversity:
What are the advantages/disadvantages of having greater diversity and choice with family types
Advantage - People have more freedom to choose the kind of family and personal relationships that meet their needs.
Disadvantage - More freedom/ choice in relationships means greater risk of instability and means that relationships are more likely to break down.
Post modernist perspective on families
What are Post-Modernists views on the family (use sociologists) 1. S
Stacey (1998) argues that because there is more freedom and choice this has massively benefitted women as it enables them to free themselves from patriarchal oppression and to shape their family in a way that meet their needs e.g. rejecting traditional house-wife mother role.
This helps to show that postmodern families are diverse and that their shape depends on choices people make about how to live their lives e.g. whether to get divorced, cohabit, come out as gay etc.
The individualisation thesis:
What is the individualisation thesis? (use sociologists) 1. G+B
Giddens and Beck according to the individualisation thesis we have become freed from traditional roles and structures allowing us to have freedom to choose how we lead our lives. We are free to choose what we want.
Choice and equality
What are Post-modernist views on choice and equality (use sociologist) 1. G
Giddens (1992) - The family and marriage have been changed by greater choice and a more equal relationship between men and women.
In the past, traditional family relationships were held together by laws and religion whereas now there is so much choice - there are no obligations.
Choice and equality
How has greater choice lead to men and women being more equal in their relationship (use sociologist) 1. G
Giddens (1992) - The family and marriage have been changed by greater choice and a more equal relationship between men and women.
Contraception has allowed sex and intimacy rather than reproduction to become the main reason for having a relationship.
Women have gained independence as a result of feminism and because of greater opportunities in education and work leading them to be equal to men.
The pure relationship:
What is the pure relationship (use sociologist) 1. G
Pure relationship - When people decide to carry on their relationship because it meets their emotional and sexual needs if it doesn’t you find someone else.
Giddens sees the pure relationship as a key feature of late modern society where relationships are no longer found by traditional norms. This means that people are free to choose to enter and to leave relationships as they see fit. However, because there is more choice personal relationships inevitably become less stable.
Same-sex as pioneers
What do Post-Modernists think of Same-Sex relationships (use sociologist) 1. G
Giddens - same-sex relationships lead to new family types and create more democratic and equal relationships. This is because same-sex relationships are not influenced by tradition like heterosexual relationships are such as men being the bread-winner and women being the homemaker.
The negotiated family:
What is the negotiated family 1. B+B
Negotiated families are families that do not conform to the traditional family norm but are based on each individual familiies needs.
Beck and Beck (1995) - gender equality and individualism has led to the Negotiated families. They enter the relationship on an equal basis.
Although the negotiated family is more equal than the patriarchal family, it is less stable as people are free to leave if their needs are not met. Because of this instability leads to greater family diversity by creating more lone-parent families, one person households, re-marriages and so on.
The negotiated family:
What trends has the patriarchal family been undermined by (use sociologist) 1. B
Beck (1992) argues that we live in a society where tradition has less influence and people have more choice.
Greater gender equality - has challenged male domination in all aspects of life. Women now expect equality both at work and in marriage e.g. Equal Pay Act 1970 and Sex Discrimination 1975
Greater individualism - people’s actions are influenced more by their self-interest than by a sense of obligation to others e.g. access to abortion
The zombie family
What is the zombie family (use sociologist) 1. B
Beck - In today’s society people turn to the family in the hope of finding security however because relationships are uncertain family relationships are also subject to greater risk and uncertainty ‘the zombie family’.
Criticisms of the individualisation thesis from the personal life perspective 1. B
Budgeon (2011) -The individualisation thesis sees people independent individuals. It ignores the fact that that our decisions and choices about personal relationships are made within a social context of how we have been brought up and who we surround ourselves with.
The connectedness thesis
What is the connectedness thesis (use sociologist)
1. S 2. F+M
Smart argues that humans are social beings who rely on other people and other’s opinions strongly influence our choices in relationships).
Finch and Mason’s (1993) found that, although individuals can negotiate the relationships they want, they are also fixed within obligations that restrict their freedom of choice.
This challenges the notion of the pure relationship. Families usually include more than just the couples that like Giddens suggests and couple relationships are not always ‘pure’ relationships that we can walk away from at will.
Class and gender:
How does class and gender affect family relationships
Both class and gender limit our choices about relationships, identities and families people can create.
e.g. After divorce, gender norms dictate that women should have custody of the children which limits their opportunity to form new relationships. However, men are freer to start new relationships and second families.
e.g. Men are better paid than women and this gives them greater freedom and choice in relationships.
The power of structures
How do the power of structures affect family structures (use sociologist) 1. M
May argues, power structures aren’t disappearing, they’re being re-shaped e.g. though there is growing equality between men and women there is still a long way to go e.g. men usual hold the power when it comes to making decisions about finances.
