Family Diversity AQA A-Level Sociology

A comprehensive set of practice flashcards covering family types, sociological perspectives on diversity, and demographic changes in the UK based on the AQA A-Level Sociology curriculum.

How does the transcript define a nuclear family and what is its alternative name?

A nuclear family consists of a father, mother, and their child(ren), where parents are married or cohabiting across two generations; it is also known as a 'cereal packet' family.

What is a 'beanpole' family and what demographic trends contribute to its formation?

A beanpole family is a type of extended, multi-generational family with fewer children per generation; it is linked to longer life expectancy and lower birth rates.

According to the transcript, how does a household differ from a family?

A family is defined as a couple with or without dependent children or a lone parent with children, whereas a household refers to one person living alone or a group of people living together at the same address who may share facilities like a kitchen.

What are matrifocal families and in which communities are they more common?

Matrifocal families are female-headed households that include dependent children and sometimes grandmothers; they are more common in low-income communities.

What is 'Living apart together' (LAT) and what proportion of adults in the UK fall into this category?

LAT refers to adults who are in a significant relationship but are not married or cohabiting; approximately $1$ in $10$ adults are 'living apart together'.

What did Roseneil and Budgeon ($2006$) find regarding the role of friends as family?

They found that friends were often more supportive than kin, particularly during mental health struggles or relationship breakdowns, though friends usually complement rather than replace family ties.

How many children were in local authority care in England in March $2015$, and what was the most common reason?

There were $69,540$ children in care, with around $60\%$ being there due to neglect or abuse.

What historical and social factors are sometimes used to explain the higher proportion of lone-parent families in Black Caribbean and Black African households?

Factors include the legacy of slavery (where couples were sold separately), male unemployment, and poverty.

What are the five types of family diversity identified by the Rapoports ($1982$)?

Organisational diversity, Cultural diversity, Class diversity, Life-stage diversity, and Generational diversity.

What is the 'divorce-extended family' as identified by tracks by Stacey ($1998$)?

These are kin networks linked by divorce rather than marriage, which are often female-led and include ex-in-laws.

According to Anthony Giddens ($1992$), what is a 'pure relationship'?

A relationship based on love, happiness, and emotional satisfaction rather than tradition or duty, which is maintained only as long as it meets the individuals' needs.

What is Ulrich Beck's concept of the 'negotiated family'?

A family structure where roles are negotiated based on personal choice rather than tradition, leading to more fragile units as people leave if their needs are not met.

How does the New Right perspective view state benefits and welfare?

They believe state benefits encourage a 'dependency culture' that discourages marriage and male responsibility.

What is Robert Chester’s ($1985$) 'neo-conventional family'?

A dual-earner nuclear family household where both partners play an instrumental (breadwinner) role; Chester argues this shows that the nuclear family has evolved rather than declined.

According to Parsons, why does the nuclear family best fit modern industrial society?

It primary socialises children into shared values, stabilises adult personalities through emotional support, and possesses the geographical and social mobility required by the economy.

What is the 'life cycle approach' to family diversity?

The view that while diversity has increased, the nuclear family remains central because most people will live in one at some stage of their lives (e.g., as children or parents).