Family - Diversity

What does Parsons believe the family does?

socialises children and stabilises personalities of adults

Why do functionalists believe we have the nuclear family?

it fits in society

How do functionalist view other family types?

dysfunctional

What do new right believe about family types?

nuclear family is the only correct family type as it is based on biology

What do the new right believe about other types of family?

they are the cause of societies problems

How does the new right view lone parenthood?

female lone parents cannot discipline their children and without a male role model children will become delinquents and fail their education as well as use the welfare system

What did Benson find from his study of parents and their children?

on a study of 15,000 babies 20% of parents were cohabiting broke up whereas only 6% of marriages broke up within the first 3 years of the babies life

Why does Benson argue that couples should get married?

it makes couples more stable and requires a commitment

What does the New right argue we need to do to ‘fix’ the ‘broken’ society?

return to tradition and not allow divorce,gay marriage or welfare as they undermine the family

How does Oakley criticise the new right?

people’s roles shouldn’t be defined by biology and we should choose our roles and that this is a reaction to the feminists

How do feminists criticise the New right perspective on family ?

the traditional gender roles required women to be oppressed under the patriarchy and prevents women from having their freedom and makes them reliant on men

What are the criticisms of New right beliefs?

no evidence children brought up by single parents are more likely to become delinquents, people’s view of the relationship will change it’s outcome not whether you get married

What is Smart’s explanation for why cohabiting couples are more likely to break up?

they are more likely to be poorer putting more stress on the relationship

How does Chester view the family in postmodern society?

there has been a change but this is not negative

What is a neo-conventional family?

symmetrical family where both parents work and contribute to the household

What does Chester argue about the nuclear family?

it’s still the ideal, most people live in one at some point, most families are still headed by two parents and most people get married and have children

What proportion of people have never been married or in a civil partnership in 2021?

38%

What proportion of the population had never been married or in a civil partnership in 1991?

26%

What proportion of families in the UK are married or have a civil partnership?

66%

What are the 5 types of family diversity?

organisational diversity, cultural diversity, social class diversity, life-stage diversity, generational diversity

What is organisational diversity?

different ways families are organised

What is cultural diversity?

family structures vary between cultures,religions and ethnicities

What is social class diversity?

class differences in households and child-raising practices

What is life-stage diversity?

variations in family structure according to life stage

What is generational diversity?

different views, attitudes and experiences based on the generation

What does Cheal say about how society has changed in postmodern society?

it has become chaotic and unpredictable and there is no longer a dominant family structure

What did Stacey find about who the changes in society have benefitted?

women as they have more freedom and choice and can be liberated from the patriarchy

What did Stacey find about women in the Silicon Valley?

they were the main agents of change and they rejected trad. wife. role to work and become educated

How did women find family through divorce?

became friends with ex-husbands new partners and supported them financially and domestically

What did Morgan say about the generalisation of family?

it is pointless as family is so diverse as people create their own family practices

What do individualisationists argue ?

traditional structures such as class and gender have lost influence over us and we are ‘disembedded’ from traditional roles

What does Beck argue about how we live our lives?

the standard biography has been replaced by the do it yourself biography

What does Giddens argue about the reasons for transformations in society?

contraception and greater opportunities and ambitions for women(feminism)

What used to hold relationships together and how has that changed?

external forces used to keep people together but now only the partners can choose whether to stay together

What are pure relationships?

relationships based on choice and equality and that exist only to satisfy each others needs

Why are pure relationships less stable?

the relationships ends when one of the memebr thinks it is in their best interests

Why are same sex relationships more equal and democtratic?

they are not influenced by tradition and so create relationships which serves them

What did Weston(1992) find about gay people?

they create their own families of choice

What does Beck argue about how we make choices in society now?

we are aware of the risks and so have to make calculated decisions

What was the benefit of traditional roles which we have now lost?

stability

How is the patriarchy undermined?

increased gender equality at home and at work as well as increased individualism

What is the zombie family?

a family which seems alive but is actually dead because of instability

What does Budgeon argue about what influences our choices?

traditional norms haven’t weakened and social class and gender still influences our decisions

What is the connected thesis?

the idea that we make our choices within a web of connectedness of existing relationships and personal relationships

What does Finch and Manson say about our choices?

we can negotiate to a certain extent but obligations and connections limit our choices such as ending pure relationships may be difficult if their are children involved

How does Gender influence our choices after divorce?

women often left with the children to look after, men are often higher paid so they have more choices, women and children may also be forced to stay in abusive relationships due to money problems

What does May say about structures in society?

they are being reshaped not removed

What is an example of May’s ideas about structures?

lesbian women encouraged to appear hetero and to have men control their lives

What does the personal life perspective believe about how society has changed?

there is greater diversity but structure still controls our lives