family diversity

women’s freedom

E: Stacey- greater freedom has allowed women to free themselves from patriarchal oppression and become main agents of change in the family

divorce, return to work, improve job prospects, remarry

create the ‘divorce extended family’- families that fit their needs- members support each other financially and domestically

R: Beck- we now live in a risk society- where tradition has less influence and we have more choice

stability of rigid gender roles within the patriarchal family undermined by greater gender equality and individualism

lead to the negotiated family- doesn’t conform to norms and varies based on needs of members

C: Parsons- nuclear family meets needs of society and performs functions of primary socialisation and stabilisation of adult society = stabilisation of society

other family types are abnormal as they are less able to perform functions

Giddens and Beck

E: Giddens and Beck- individualisation thesis- traditional structures eg. gender, family have lost influence - freedom from traditional roles and more choice

people now construct their own life course

R: Giddens- greater choice and equality- contraception and women’s independence

relationships no longer held together by traditional roles, social norms, religion etc

pure relationship- exists to satisfy partners needs- couples don’t feel duty to stay together

personal relationships become a less stable commitment- creates more family diversity eg. lone parent, one person households

C: May- individualisation thesis ignores importance of structural factors eg. class inequality and gender norms in limiting and shaping choices- privileged view of white m/c man

personal life perspective

E: Smart- criticises thesis view that we are isolated individuals

connectedness thesis- we live within a network of existing relationships which influence our choices

must put individuals in the context of their past and web of relationships

R: Finch and Mason- study of extended families found that individuals can negotiate their relationships to an extent but family connections and obligations restrict their choice

C: Giddens- relationships are no longer held together by social norms, tradition etc

new right

P: only acceptable family type is nuclear family with instrumental and expressive → natural based on biology

E: Murray- see lone parent as harmful- can’t discipline properly, lack of male role model = social instability, likely to be poorer = burden of welfare state

R: Benson- data from parents of 15000 babies→ in first 3 years rate of family breakdown is 20% in cohabitating couples and 6% in married— couples are more stable when married as its a deliberate commitment

only a return to traditional values can prevent social disintegration

policies that give easy access to divorce, gay marriage and welfare benefits undermine the family

C: Chester- sees little evidence for significant change

move towards neo conventional family- dual earner

people change household throughout life cycle but nuclear family is still ideal → cohabitation increases but majority of couples get married if they have children

types of diversity

E: Cheals- we now live in a diverse and chaotic society where families are no longer predictable

R: Rapoports- as society becomes more pluralistic diversity increases reflecting greater freedom of choice and acceptance

diversity is positive response to peoples needs- 5 types eg.

organisational- joint conjugal roles vs separated

life stage- newlyweds, couples with children, empty nesters

C: Murray- diversity leads to social instability