Family diversity

Parsons

Functional fit theory

-nuclear family fits needs of industrial society

-primary socialisation, stabilisation of adult personality- warm bath theory

-males have instrumental role and women have expressive role

Benson

-cohabiting couples are most likely to split up

-marriage encourages commitment and stability

-state should support marriage

Oakley

-criticises that roles are natural, they’re socially constructed

-nuclear family reinforces patriarchy

-no evidence that lone-parent families cause deviance

Chester

-neo-conventional family - dual-earner nuclear family is norm

-most people still live in nuclear family

-suggest diversity is exaggerated

-cohabitation is mostly temporary and couples eventually get married

The Rapaports

-move away from dominance from nuclear family

-families adapt to pluralistic society

-family diversity is positive

5 types of family diversity:

Organisational

Cultural

Social class

Life stage

Generational

Stacey

Silicon Valley families

-women rejected traditional housewife roles and formed diverse family types

-divorce-extended families- support networks after marriage ends

-families based on choice and support

Smart

Breakdown of families due to poverty not cohabitation as family experience more stress

Who talks about Individualisation thesis and what do they say

Post modernists

-individuals are now ‘disembeded’ from traditional roles

-‘free floating’ - free to choose what you want

-before everybody

Who talks about pure relationship thesis and what do they say

Giddens

-relationships are more equal and flexible, free to choose partner and build relationship they want. People can leave if they want to which also makes them more unstable

What sociologists talk about same-sex couples and what do they say

Weeks- same-sex couples value relationships based on choice

Weston- same-sex families are ‘chosen families’ based on friendship ,support and love

Who talks about negotiated family and what do they say

Beck

-in a society where people have different risks and goals, members negotiate roles

-less traditional= more flexibility but less stability

‘Zombie family’- appears stable but no longer provides stability

Who talks about the connectedness thesis and what do they say

Smart

-live in network of existing relationships and obligations

-always connected to blood relation- children

Smart and May

Personal life perspective

-argues that all people are not ‘free-floating’ or ‘disembedded’

-emphasise emotional bonds, history and the meaning of relationship