Sociology: Families and Household - Same-sex families & Lone Parenthood

How large is the estimated population for the adult population in same-sex relationships?

Stonewall (2012), the campaign for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights, estimates that about 5 to 7% of the adult population today have same-sex relationships.

Provide examples of Social policies that treat all couples equally;

- The 2004 Civil Partnership Act (came into force in Dec 2005) gave same-sex couple similar rights to married couples in respects of pension, inheritance and property/

- The Marriage (Same-Sex Couples) Act 2013, which allows same-sex marriage in England and Wales was passed by the UK parliament in July 2013 and came into force on 13 March 2014, with the first same-sex marriages taking place on 29 March 2014.

Why do many people do not believe that traditional monogamous marriages do not actually suit homosexual couples?

This is due to the 'underground' nature of homosexual relationships, the gay lifestyle of the 1970s and 80s largely rejected monogamy and family life in favour of more loosely connected and casual relationships.

What has Einasdottir (2011) noted about the impact of legal same-sex partnerships?

She notes that while many LGBTs welcome the opportunity to have relationships legally recognised, other fear that it may limit the flexibility and negotiability of relationships (i.e. they prefer the 'pure relationship' suggested by Anthony Giddens). Rather than adopt what they see as heterosexual relationship norms, they wish their relationship to be different.

How do New Right thinkers, such as Patricia Morgan (2000), object to same-sex families in society?

She objects to same-sex marriage, because she argues it indicates a rejection of Christian values and a general moral decline. She argues that an alternative secular ideology, with a focus on sexual and family diversity, has come to culturally dominate western society. She claims that this ideology, which is encouraged by government social policy, seeks to undermine the moral authority of religious institutions and the traditional nuclear family.

How does Anthony Giddens (2002) sees same-sex marriages in society?

He sees same-sex relationships as leading the way towards new family types and creating more democratic and equal relationships. This because same-sex relationships are not influenced by tradition, so couples have been able develop relationships bsed on choice rather than on traditional roles. This has enabled those in same-sex relationships to negotiate personal relationships and actively create family structures that serve their own needs, rather than having to conform to pre-existing norms in the way that heterosexual couples have traditionally had to do.

What has Jeffery Weeks (1999) found about LGBT couples?

He found that friendship network functioned as kinship networks for many LGBT couples.

How has new reproductive technologies impact family diversity?

It has added a new dimension to family diversity. It may take the form of third-party assisted reproduction involving the donation of eggs, sperms, or embryo or surrogacy.

What is the trend of lone-parent families among the UK population?

It has become increasingly common in Britain. In 2022, there were almost 3 million single parent families, and single parent families make up 15% of all families in the UK. 2019 data suggests that 86% of lone parents are lone-parent mothers. However, from 1999 to 2019, the number of lone-parent fathers has increased by 22%.

List the ways that Lone Parenthood can came about:

1. Previous, Abusive relationships and family trauma.

2. Divorced from the father and couple separation.

3. People chose to be alone or feminist belief want to be away from men.

4. Deceased Partner - they are widowed.

What do Sociologist refer to reasons for Lone Parenthood?

Allan and Crow notes the increase in lone parenthood to 2 factors: an increase in martial breakdown and a rise in births to unmarried mothers. David Morgan suggest the rise could be partly due to changing relationships between men and women. Higher expectations of marriages and growing opportunities for women are significant factors. The stigma attached to lone parenthood has also decreased. Allan and Crow argue that most lone parents don't reject a two-parent model at all: on avarage they only save lone parents for about five years.

What are the positives of lone parenthood?

Feminism - Women are no longer oppressed due to patriarchy and have more independence.

Post-modernism - Shows increase in choice within Society.

What are the negatives of lone parenthood?

Functionalism & the New Right - Criticise lone parents, as they believe only nuclear families can teach societal norms and values, and mother cannot discipline the behaviour of their children correctly.

How do some argue that lone parenthood is a serious problem for society?

In the 1990s, the Conservative Party and the tabloid media suggest that lone parenthood posed a major thret to the well-being of society. Lone parents were often depicted as 'bad parents'.

What did the research by Dermott and Pomati find?

There were was no significant difference in the extent to which lone and couple parents engage in 'good' parenting. Lone parents were found to be more likely to sit down and eat a meal with their children every day than couple parent, but they were less likely to read their children than couple parents.

How does Lone Parenthood relate to family finances?

Lone parenthood does lead to financial difficulties for many families. According to Gingerbread, lone parent families have nearly twice the rate of poverty of couple families.

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