family diversity

Functionalism and the nuclear family

Parsons says it’s the best because of functional fit theory - socially and geographically mobile workforce (also performs 2 essential functions for the family), other family types are dysfunctional

What do new right think of the nuclear family

Against family diversity, argues traditional patriarchal nuclear family is the correct family type - traditional division of labour is natural and biologically determined

What do new right think is the worst family

Lone parent which happens when couples relationship breakdown, it’s harmful because it means boys don’t have a male role model causing them to fail educationally and also results in delinquency

Criticisms of the new right

• Oakley - their view is a negative reaction against female equality and roles aren’t biologically fixed

• Feminist - nuclear oppressed women

Chester and the nuclear family

Neo conventional family - recognises increase family diversity but doesn’t really care and the only important change is the move from conventional family to neo conventional family

• different family types are due to life cycle and there is little change as nuclear family is still most common eg : most people marry and have chrildren

Importance of family diversity is exaggerated

Rapports 5 types of family diversity

Different family types is us adjusting to a pluralistic society, it’s positive and reflects our increased choice and acceptance of difference

1. Organisational

2. Cultural

3. Social class

4. Life stage

5. Generational

What do new right say is the cause of lone parent families

Caused by the break down of cohabiting couples

• Benson found cohabiting couples have a higher family breakdown rate in the child’s first 3 years, showing that married couples are more stable

What does Stacey say about family diversity

Postmodernist - says families are diverse

Greater freedom and choice benefits women as they can shape family arrangements to their own needs, therefore freeing them from patriarchal oppression

• interviews with postmodern families found that women are the main agents of change in the family for example: rejecting traditional role

• Eg: divorce extended family

What are divorce extended families

Stacey

In Postmodern society women can shape family arrangements to their own needs, an example of this is the divorce extended family - connected by divorce rather than marriage eg : former mother and daughter in laws

What is the individualisation thesis

Giddens and Beck - impact increase choice has on relationships and families

Argue that traditional social structures have lost their influence which means now people are no longer defined by fixed roles allowing people to choose how they live their life

• Beck - ‘standard biography’ people followed is replaced by ‘do it yourself biography’

What is the pure relationship

Giddens - the consequence of increase choice and equality

Relationships are no longer based on obligation instead couples stay together because of love (satisfying partners needs)

• this makes personal relationships less stable because it’s a ‘rolled contract’ - either partner can end it at any point, leading to more family diversity

Giddens - choice and equality

Due to contraception allowing intimacy instead of reproduction also feminism gaining women’s independence, the basis of marriage and the family has changed

• traditional relationships held together by external forces like norms against divorce, whereas now couples are free to define their own relationship

How are same sex couples pioneers

Giddens

Same sex couples aren’t influenced by traditional gender roles, meaning they are able to make relationships based on choice. This means that they pave the way for more equal and diverse families and relationships

• Dunn - lesbians, lack of gende

What is the negotiated family

Beck

‘risk society’ which means roles and relationships are based on individual choice and negotiation rather than traditional norms➡greater family diversity and less stability because individuals decide what is best for them rather than conforming to what society expects from them

• ‘zombie family’

What is the zombie family

Today’s uncertain society means people turn to their family for security however they are met with instability because the family appears to be alive but is actually dead - it’s not a haven anymore

What is a criticism of the pure realtionship

Personal life - Smart

We can’t just ‘walk away’ from relationships. This is because we live within a network of existing relationships and interwoven personal histories which influence our range of choices in relationships. This shows how we can’t just ‘walk away’ because they will always be connected

• Finch and Mason

What did Finch and Mason find about the connectedness thesis

Studied extended families finding that although members could negotiate the relationships they want, it’s only to a certain extent because of family connections and obligations which limit their choice

What are criticisms of the individualisation thesis

1. May - Giddens and Becks’ view of the Individual is just an ‘idealised version of a white MC man’ ignoring some groups that don’t have the privilege to make choice in relationships

2. the connected thesis

3. exaggeration of the amount of choice and freedom people have - traditional norms haven’t weakened as much as the thesis claims

Criticisms about the power of structures

May says that structures are disappearing as Beck and Giddens claim instead they are just being reshaped eg: although women have been gaining more equality it doesn’t mean they ‘have it all’