Family Diversity

What is the functionalist view on the family

Functionalists such as Parsons say that there is a ‘functional fit’ between the nuclear family and the modern family as it is geographically and socially mobile, along with performing socialisation and stabilisation of adult personalities.

Therefore, other families are seen as dysfunctional

What is the New right view on the family

See the nuclear family as functional

the new right are particularly concerned with teh growth of lone parent families, as lone parents cant discipline chidlren porperly, no adult male role model causes boys to find one in all male gangs, lone parent families are a burden on the state

What is the new right view on cohabitation versus marriage

The new right claim that the main cause of lone parent families is the collapse of relationships between cohabiting couples.

For example, Benson analysed data o the parents of over 15,000 babies and found that for the first 3 years of a baby’s life, family breakdown was much higher among cohabiting couples than married ones (20% to 6%).

What are the criticisms of the new right view of the family

Oakley argues that the new right wrongly assume that husbands and wives roles are fixed by biology. Instead, studies show great variation in the roles of men and women within the family.

Describe Chester’s neo conventional family

Chester sees the only important cahneg in family diversity as from conevntional to neo conventional

The neo conventional family is a dual earner family in which both spouses go out to work, and not just the husband

Apart from this, he doenst see another other major change. He argues most people are not choosing to live in alternatives to the nuclear family on a long term basis, and the nuclear family is still an ideal most people aspire to

Provide evdience of the neo conventional family

Rise in dual earner families - 70% of all housholds with children have 2 working parents

What 5 types of family diversity to the rapoports identify

Organisational diversity - When differences in family roles were organised such as joint conjugal roles or segregated conugal roles

Cultural diversity - Different cultural backgrounds have varied familt structures such as asians more liekly to be extended families

Social class diversity - There are class differences in child rearing

Life stage diversity - Family structures differ according to stage reached in life cycle, such as retired couples whose cilren have left home or newlyweds with dependent children

Generational diversity - Older and younger generations have different attitudes and experiences that reflect the historical periods that they have lived in

WHta is the postmodernist view on family diversity

Postnmodernsits argue that the family is increasingly fragmented and there is no longer one stable dominant structure. This has both advantages and disadvantages:

provides individuals with greater freedom to plot their own life course

Greater freedom of choice in relationships means a greater risk of instability as they are more likely to break up

Describe Stacey’s postmodern family

argues that family life is diverse, flexible, and shaped by individual choices rather than fixed structures. Women, in particular, have more freedom to reject traditional roles, leading to new family forms like divorce-extended families.

Relationships are based on personal fulfilment, and family structures constantly change through divorce, remarriage, and re-partnering, making family life fluid rather than stable.

describe what Stacey calls the divorce extended family

Stacey argues that the members of a divorce exetnded familty are connected by divorce rather than marriage. The key members are usually female and may include former in laws, such as mothers and daughter in laws.

These families may help each other out financially and domestically due to common family members, children

describe the individualisation thesis

The individualisation thesis argues that traditional structures like class, gender, and family have lost influence, giving individuals more freedom. For example, eceryone was expected to marry and take up their appropraite gender role. However, individuals today have fewer fixed rules to follow.

Beck describes this shift as replacing a ‘standard biography’ with a ‘DIY biography’ that people construct themselves.

According to Giddens, how has choice and equality changed family diversity

Giddens says that greater choice has given rise to the ‘pure relationship’ such as contraception for intimacy, where relationships only exist as long as members are happy

describe Giddens ‘pure relationship’

refers to a relationship based on emotional intimacy, trust, and personal fulfilment rather than traditional social norms or external pressures like family expectations or economic necessity.

In a pure relationship, individuals stay together only as long as the relationship remains satisfying to both partners. It is not based on duty, social obligation, or external constraints, but rather on mutual benefits and personal happiness. This idea reflects the increasing individualisation in modern society, where relationships are more flexible but also more fragile.

How are same sex couples pioneers towards family diversity accoridng to Giddens

In Giddens view, same sex relationships are pioneers as they arent influenced by tardition to the extent the the heteresexual raletionships are. therefore, they have been abel to develop relationships based in choice rather than traditional roles, creatin pure relationships

Describe Beck’s negotiated family

Beck argues that we now live in a risk society, where tradition has less influence and people have more choice. As a result, we a re more aware of risks

For example, in the past people were expected to get married for life and once marriedm men would take on teh instrumental role and women the expressive.

greater individualism has led Beck to call a new type of family the ‘negotiated family’, where it varies based on the wishes and expectations of its members

Describe the criticisms of the indvidualisation thesis

Critics argue that individuals are not as free as the thesis suggests. Social structures like class, gender, and ethnicity continue to shape people’s options and decisions.

Connectedness thesis argues that people remain embedded in networks of relationships that influence their choices. For example, after a divorce, ex-partners may still be tied through children or financial obligations, limiting their independence.

Describe the connectedeness thesis from a personal life perspective

According to this thesi, we live withing networks of existing relationships and personal histories that influnce our range of optons and chocies in relationships

For example, even after divorce, ex-partners may remain connected through children, financial ties, or emotional bonds, limiting their ability to make completely independent choices.