Family diversity

Functionalist view on the nuclear family

The only correct family type as it performs the essential functions, all other family types are dysfunctional

New Right view on the nuclear family

The most natural family type due to biological differences, the growth in lone-parent families are harmful for children

Benson

New Right who thinks couples are more stable when they are married as it requires deliberate commitment

Criticisms of the New Right

• Oakley disagrees that husbands and wives’ roles are fixed

• Feminists argue the nuclear family reproduces patriarchy as men make more decisions

• Smart argues that poverty might be the cause of breakdowns

Chester

Neo conventional family - dual earner family in which both spouses work

Everyone either has or will be in a nuclear family

Rapoports five types of family diversity

• Organisational diversity - the differences in the way family roles are organised

• Cultural diversity - different cultures (religion and ethnic) have different family structures

• Social class diversity - differences in family structure are because of income differences

• Life-stage diversity - family structure differs according to life stage in life stage

• Generational diversity - family structure differs according to the historical periods in which they have lived

Stacey

Postmodernist who argues that the greater freedom and choice has freed women from patriarchal oppression to meet their needs in the family

Divorce extended family

Stacey - a new family structure where family members are connected by divorce rather than marriage

Individualisation thesis

Giddens and Beck - traditional social structures e.g. class, gender and family have lost influence on us and we now have more choice to do as we want

Pure relationship

Giddens - a relationship that exists solely to satisfy each partners needs rather than tradition or obligation

The negotiated family

Beck - roles, responsibilities and relationships are decided through discussion and agreement rather than fixed gender roles

Criticisms of the individualisation thesis

• Exaggerates how much choice people have about family relationships

• Ignores important social structures like class

• Ignores ethnic/gender discrimination

Connectedness thesis

We live within networks of existing and past relationships, these relationships influence our choices in relationships