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Describe the changing patterns if divorce in the UK
peaking at 165,000 divorces in 1993
The divorce rate has since fallen to 118,000 in 2012. However, this rate means that around 40% of marriages will end in divorce.
65% of applications for a divorce come from the woman, compared to just 37% in 1946
How have changes in lawsled to an increase in divorce
Law changes include:
widening grounds for divorce - makes divorce easier to obtain
equalising the grounds for divorce between men and women
Making divorce cheaper - Introduction of legal aid for divorce in 1949 lowered teh cost of divorce
How has declining stigma led to an increase in divorce according to Goody and Mitchel;
Goody and Mitchell note that an imprtant change in attitudes to divorce from the church in the 60s greatly reduced the stigma attached to divorce. As well as this, the fact that divorce is more common 'normalises it, so there is less stigmatisation towards it
How has secularisation led to a decline in divorce
As religious institutions lose their influence, and society becomes more secular, such as declining numbers of churchgoers, religious perspectives on divorce are less influential.
As well as this, many churches and religions have cahnegd their perspectives to divorce and accept it
How have rising expectations of marriage led to an increase in teh divorce rate
This is linked to the ideology of romantic love, based on the idea that a marriage should be purely based on love. Therefore, if there is no longer any love, there is no reason to remain married.
However, in the past people had little choice in who they married, and marriages were created largely for economic reasons. under these circumstances, individuals were unlikely to have high expectations about marriage, so they were less likely to be dissatisfied.
Describe some ways that show women are no longer financially dependent on the man
As of 2023, 72% of the women in teh UK were in employment
Availability of welfare benefits means women are no longer economically reliant on the man
girls have greater success in education, allowing for them to achieve better paying jobs
What are the different views of a high divorce rate
New right - The new right see a high divorce rate as undesirable, as it undermines marriage and the traditional nuclear family. They see higehr divorce rates as creating a growing underclass
Feminists - Feminsist see a high divorce rate as desirable as it shows that women are breaking free of patriarchal oppression
Functionalists - argue that a high divorce rate is not necessarily a threat to marriage as a social institution, but the result of people’s higher expectations of marriage, evidenced by high rates of remarriage
Interectionists - Morgan argues that we cant generalise about the meaning of divorcem as every individuals intepretation is different.
How has marriage changed over time
in 2012, there were 175,000 first marriages for both partners, less than half that of 1970
More remarriages, where in 2012, 1/3 of all marriages were remarriages for one or both partners
People are marrying later - The average age of forst marriage rose by seven years from 1971 and 2012, where it was 32 for men and 30 for women
provide evidence of rising numbers of couples cohabiting
2.9 million cohabitinh heterosexual couples in the UK
Estimated 69,000 homosexual cohabiting couples
What are the reasons for an increase in cohabitation
Thye are a result of a declining stigma attached to outside of marriage sex. In 1989, only 44% of people agreed sex outside of marriage isnt wrong, compared to 65% in 2012
Young people ar emore likely to accept cohabitation
Describe the relationship between cohabitation and marriage
Chester argues that for most people, cohabitation is a part of the process of getting married. Accoridng to Coast, 75% of all cohabiting couples say that they expect to marry each other
What is the view of cohabitation as a trial marriage
Many couples see cohabitation as a ‘trial marriage’. Most decide to marry if they have children, and in some cases cohabitation is a temporary phase before amrriage as one or both of the partners are awaiting divorce
On the other hand, some see cohabitation as a permanent alternative to marriage. Bejin found that some young people argue cohabitation represents a conscious attempt to create a more personally negotiated and equal marriage than the conventional patriarchal marriage
How has an attitude to same sex relationships changed
Same sex relationships now acount for around 5% of all adult relationships. This is due to declining stigma, along with it being legal to have same sex relationships as of 1967.
Social policy now treats all couples more equally. since 2014, same sex couples have been allow to marry, and since 2004 have has similar legal rights to married couples
Describe the chosen family
Weeks argues that greater social acceptance has led to more stable same-sex relationships, resembling heterosexual ones. He says gay individuals form "chosen families" based on friendship, offering similar stability.
Weston describes same-sex cohabitation as "quasi-marriage," with many gay couples now choosing stable partnerships, contrasting with the more casual relationships of the 1970s.
Provide evidence of growing one person households
In 2013 3/10 households, around 7.7 million people lived in single person households, nearly 3 times the figure for 1961
What are the reasons for the change in single person households
Increase in seperation and divorce has increased amount of single person households especially among men under 65, as children are more likely to live with their mothers
Lower marriage rates along with the trend of people marrying later
describe the statistics of childbearing in the UK
47% of children in the UK are born outside of marriage
The average age for a woman to have a child rose by 4 years from 1971 to 2012 to 28 years old
More women are remaining childless. It is predicted that a quarter of those born in 1973 will be childless when they reach 45
Describe the statistics for lone parent fanilies
Lone parent families make up 22% of all families with hcildren
90% of these are headed by a lone mother
A child living with a lone parent is twice as likely to be in poverty as a child living with 2 parents
What are the reasons for the patterns of lone parent families
Ease fo access to divorce for women, so they arent confined to a marriage, as well as no longer being economically dependent.
Many lone parent families are female headed as the mother are single by choice. They may not want to cohabit or marry, or limit the father’s involvement with the child. Renvioze found that rpofessional women were able to support their chld without the fathers involvement
What is the new right view on lone parenthood and the welfare state
Murray says that the growth of lone parent families comes from an over dependence on welfare benefits for unmarried mothers and their children
Murray argues this has created a perverse incentive, where irresponsibel behaviour is rewarded, such as having childrenw ithout being able to provide for them. this has therefore created a depndency culture on benefits
Murray says that the solution is to abolish welfare benefits
What are criticisms of teh new right view on lone parenthood and the welfare state
Most lone parents are women, who generally earn less than men
lack of unaffordabke childcare means that 60% of lone parents are unemployed
Describe the statistics and features of step families
Step families account for 10% of families with children in the UK
Ferri and Smith found that stepfamilies are very similae to first families in all major respectsand the involvement of stepparents in childcare is a positive one. Howeverm they found taht step families are at a greater risk of poverty
What are the reasons for the patterns of step families
Step families are formed when lone parents create new partnerships. Therefore the factors causing an increase in the number of lone parents such as divorce and seperation are also responsible for the creation of step families
More children in step families are from teh mother than teh father as in a divorce the mother is more likely to get the children
Describe the features of Black families
Black Caribbean and African families habe a higher proportion of lone parent households. In 2012, over half of families with dependent children headed by a black person were lone parent, compared to just 1 in 9 for the asian population. This trend can be seen as evidence of family disorganisation taht can be traced back to slavery
Mirza argues that the higher rate of lone parent families among black people is not the resut of disorganisation, but rather reflectes the high value that black women place on independence
Describe the features of Asian families
Bangladeshi, Pakistani and Indian households tend to be larger than those of other ethnic groups, at 4.4, 4.3 and 3 people per household respectively, compared to 2.4 for balck and white households.
Larger households reflect the value placed on the extended family in asian cultures. however, ptractical considerations such as the need for assistance when migrating to britain, are alos important.
describe the extended family today
Some argue it has disappeared, while others believe it continues in a different form.
Charles (2008) found that extended families living together were rare in Swansea, except among the Bangladeshi community.
Bell (1968) found working-class families had strong emotional and financial ties with extended kin, while middle-class families relied more on emotional support.
Wilmott (1988) argued that the extended family still exists but in a “dispersed” form, with frequent visits and phone calls maintaining connections.
What is the beanpole family
Brannen describes the beanpole family as ‘long and thin’. It is extended vertically such as parents, children and grandparents, but not horizontally such as uncles, aunts and cousins.
Beanpole families are likely the result of 2 changes, increased life expectancy and smaller family sizesm so people have fewer siblinsg and therefore less horizontal ties
Explain how changing family patterns have influenced obligations to extended family by Finch, Mason and Mason
Changing family patterns show a shift in obligations, though extended family support remains. Finch & Mason found most people still provide financial or caregiving help, but Mason argues this depends on personal relationships and duty.
What is the functionalist view on the family
Functionalists such as Parsons say that there is a ‘functional fit’ between the nuclear family and the modern family as it is geographically and socially mobile, along with performing socialisation and stabilisation of adult personalities.
Therefore, other families are seen as dysfunctional
What is the New right view on the family
See the nuclear family as functional
the new right are particularly concerned with teh growth of lone parent families, as lone parents cant discipline chidlren porperly, no adult male role model causes boys to find one in all male gangs, lone parent families are a burden on the state
What is the new right view on cohabitation versus marriage
The new right claim that the main cause of lone parent families is the collapse of relationships between cohabiting couples.
For example, Benson analysed data o the parents of over 15,000 babies and found that for the first 3 years of a baby’s life, family breakdown was much higher among cohabiting couples than married ones (20% to 6%).
What are the criticisms of the new right view of the family
Oakley argues that the new right wrongly assume that husbands and wives roles are fixed by biology. Instead, studies show great variation in the roles of men and women within the family.
Describe Chester’s neo conventional family
Chester sees the only important cahneg in family diversity as from conevntional to neo conventional
The neo conventional family is a dual earner family in which both spouses go out to work, and not just the husband
Apart from this, he doenst see another other major change. He argues most people are not choosing to live in alternatives to the nuclear family on a long term basis, and the nuclear family is still an ideal most people aspire to
Provide evdience of the neo conventional family
Rise in dual earner families - 70% of all housholds with children have 2 working parents
What 5 types of family diversity to the rapoports identify
Organisational diversity - When differences in family roles were organised such as joint conjugal roles or segregated conugal roles
Cultural diversity - Different cultural backgrounds have varied familt structures such as asians more liekly to be extended families
Social class diversity - There are class differences in child rearing
Life stage diversity - Family structures differ according to stage reached in life cycle, such as retired couples whose cilren have left home or newlyweds with dependent children
Generational diversity - Older and younger generations have different attitudes and experiences that reflect the historical periods that they have lived in
WHta is the postmodernist view on family diversity
Postnmodernsits argue that the family is increasingly fragmented and there is no longer one stable dominant structure. This has both advantages and disadvantages:
provides individuals with greater freedom to plot their own life course
Greater freedom of choice in relationships means a greater risk of instability as they are more likely to break up
Describe Stacey’s postmodern family
argues that family life is diverse, flexible, and shaped by individual choices rather than fixed structures. Women, in particular, have more freedom to reject traditional roles, leading to new family forms like divorce-extended families.
Relationships are based on personal fulfilment, and family structures constantly change through divorce, remarriage, and re-partnering, making family life fluid rather than stable.
describe what Stacey calls the divorce extended family
Stacey argues that the members of a divorce exetnded familty are connected by divorce rather than marriage. The key members are usually female and may include former in laws, such as mothers and daughter in laws.
These families may help each other out financially and domestically due to common family members, children
describe the individualisation thesis
The individualisation thesis argues that traditional structures like class, gender, and family have lost influence, giving individuals more freedom. For example, eceryone was expected to marry and take up their appropraite gender role. However, individuals today have fewer fixed rules to follow.
Beck describes this shift as replacing a ‘standard biography’ with a ‘DIY biography’ that people construct themselves.
According to Giddens, how has choice and equality changed family diversity
Giddens says that greater choice has given rise to the ‘pure relationship’ such as contraception for intimacy, where relationships only exist as long as members are happy
describe Giddens ‘pure relationship’
refers to a relationship based on emotional intimacy, trust, and personal fulfilment rather than traditional social norms or external pressures like family expectations or economic necessity.
In a pure relationship, individuals stay together only as long as the relationship remains satisfying to both partners. It is not based on duty, social obligation, or external constraints, but rather on mutual benefits and personal happiness. This idea reflects the increasing individualisation in modern society, where relationships are more flexible but also more fragile.
How are same sex couples pioneers towards family diversity accoridng to Giddens
In Giddens view, same sex relationships are pioneers as they arent influenced by tardition to the extent the the heteresexual raletionships are. therefore, they have been abel to develop relationships based in choice rather than traditional roles, creatin pure relationships
Describe Beck’s negotiated family
Beck argues that we now live in a risk society, where tradition has less influence and people have more choice. As a result, we a re more aware of risks
For example, in the past people were expected to get married for life and once marriedm men would take on teh instrumental role and women the expressive.
greater individualism has led Beck to call a new type of family the ‘negotiated family’, where it varies based on the wishes and expectations of its members
Describe the criticisms of the indvidualisation thesis
Critics argue that individuals are not as free as the thesis suggests. Social structures like class, gender, and ethnicity continue to shape people’s options and decisions.
Connectedness thesis argues that people remain embedded in networks of relationships that influence their choices. For example, after a divorce, ex-partners may still be tied through children or financial obligations, limiting their independence.
Describe the connectedeness thesis from a personal life perspective
According to this thesi, we live withing networks of existing relationships and personal histories that influnce our range of optons and chocies in relationships
For example, even after divorce, ex-partners may remain connected through children, financial ties, or emotional bonds, limiting their ability to make completely independent choices.
What is the total fertility rate, what does thsi change show
The total fertility rate is the average number of children that a woman has during her fertile years. The UK’s fertility rate rose recently from 1.63 in 2001 to 1.83 in 2014, and is now at 1.7. This is still afr lwoer tan its peak in 1964 of 2.95 during the baby boom
These changes show hwo more women are remaining childless, and that women are also postponing having children due to focusing on education and careers
How has chnages in women’s position caused a declien in the birth rates
There were major changes in women’s position in the 20th century, such as more equilty, better access to education, changes in attitudes to women and more.
Harper argues that teh education of women is the most important reason for the long term fall in fertility rates. it has led to change in the mindset of women, as they now have more aspirational views of themselves. For example, in 2012, one in every 5 women aged 45 were childless, double the number 25 years earlier
How has a decline in the infant mortality rate led to a decline in birth rates
Harper argues that a fall in the infant mortality rate leads to a fall in teh birth rate, as if many infants die, parents have mroe childrent oreplace the ones that they lost, thereby increasing the birth rate, and vice versa.
In 1900, the UK IMR was 154 per 1000, wheras in 2014 the worlds highest IMR was Afghanisatn at 117.
The UK’s IMR began to fall in the 20th century for a number of reasons, such as:
Improved hosuing and better sanitation, resulting in lower rates of morbidity
Better nutrition
better education and knowledge
Imporved healthcare services
However, whilst man calim that a fall in the IMR led to a fall in the birth rates, Brass argues that the trend of samller families began in urban areasm despite the IMR first falling in rural areas
How has children becoming an economic liability impacted birth rates
Children now no longer work due to laws and changing norms, meaning taht more money is spent on them than made from them, so parents are less able to have children
How has child centeredness led to a fall in the birth rates
Parents now shift from ‘quantity’ to ‘quality’ and focus more on fewer chidlren but giving them better upbringings and livelihoods.
What are the effects of changing fertility rates on the family
Smaller families mean that women are more likely to be free to go out to work, thus creating the dual earner family. However, family size is only one factor here as better off couples may be able to have larger families abd still afford childcare allowing the to both work full time
What is the impact on teh dependency ratio of changing fertility rates
A fall in the fertility rate will imporve the dependency ratio in teh short term as there will be fewer children to take care of. However, in the fture due to an ageing population, there will be less peopel to take care on teh economically inactove population, worsening the dependency ratio.
What is the impact on public services and policies of changing fertility rates
A lower brith rate means taht fewer schools, maternity and child health services will be needed, It can also effect the cost of maternity and paternity leave and the types of hosuing needing to be built.
However, many of these are political decisions.
How did imporved nutrition lead to declining death rates according to McKeown
Imporved nutrition - Mckeown argues that imporved nutrition accounted for up to half the reduction in death rates from 1850-1970 and was very improtant for reducing the death rate from TB. better nutrition increased resitance to disease and increased survival chances.
However, Mckeown doesnt explain how death rates from diseases such as measles rose at a time of improving nutrition
How did medical improvements lead to declining death rates
Since the 1950s, improved medical knowledge, techniques and organisation helped to reduce death rates. Advances in teh introduction of anti biotics, immunisation, imrpved maternity servicess etc… as well as the creation of the NHS helped reduce death rates
How did smoking and diet lead to changes in the death rate
Harper says that the greatest fall in death rates came from a reduction in teh number of peopel smoking However, recently there have been major rises in obesity rates.
However, despite rising obesity, deaths from obesity have been kept relaively low due to drug therapies. Harper says we are moving to an ‘Americanisation’ of health culture where obesity rates are high but so is life expectancy due to costly drug treatments
How did public health measures lead to changes in the death rate
Improvements to housing such as better ventilation and less crowded accomodation, along with improved drinking water and improved sewage dsiposal lead to improvemnst in health
How has life expectancy changed in the UK
Men born in 1900 would live until they were 50, but men born in 2013 will live until they are 90.
One reason for this change is lower infant morality rates, for example a child born today has a better chance of reaching 65 than a child born in 1900 has of reaching 1
Describe the class, gender and regional differences in life expectancy
Wealthier areas have higher life expectancy due to better healthcare, housing, and diets, while lower-income communities face higher mortality rates from diseases like heart disease and diabetes. Manual workers and less-educated individuals tend to have shorter lifespans due to poorer health choices and job conditions.
Women live around four years longer than men due to biological advantages, healthier lifestyles, and greater use of healthcare services. Men have higher rates of heart disease, risk-taking behaviours, and are less likely to seek medical help, leading to lower life expectancy.
Life expectancy is higher in the South of England, while the North and Scotland have lower averages due to economic deprivation, higher smoking and alcohol rates, and poor housing. Rural areas generally see longer lifespans than cities due to lower pollution and stress levels.
What are the effects of an ageing population on public services
older people consume a larger proportion of service, such as health and social care than others, particularly true woth those over 75 compared to 65-74
What is the effect of an ageing population on one person penioner households
The number of pensioners living alone has increased and one person pensioner households now account for about 12.5% of households.
What is the impact of an ageing population on the dependency ratio
An ageing population increases the dependency ratio, meaning fewer workers support more retirees. The UK’s old-age dependency ratio was 285 per 1,000 in 2021, projected to reach 357 per 1,000 by 2050, straining pensions, healthcare, and social care.
The state pension age will rise to 68 by the late 2040s, but financial pressure on younger workers will still grow.
What is the view of modern society and old age
In modern society, ageing is often seen as a burden, with a focus on the costs of pensions, healthcare, and social care.
From a Marxist perspective, Philipson argues that the elderly are viewed as unproductive to capitalism, leading to inadequate state support and a reliance on family, particularly women, to provide care. Negative stereotypes and unequal treatment of elderly people continue to grow as a result.
What is the view of inequalty among the old
Ageing is not experienced equally, as both class and gender impact quality of life in old age. The middle class benefit from higher salaries and greater savings, while the working class often have shorter life expectancies and fewer financial resources. Women are more likely to experience poverty in old age due to lower lifetime earnings and career breaks, resulting in lower pension levels.
What is the view of policy impacations on old age
The ageing population requires policies that address financial security, healthcare, and social care. Increasing the state pension age and encouraging private pensions aim to reduce economic strain, but inequalities in income and support persist. Policies must also recognise the unpaid care burden on family members, particularly women, and ensure fairer provisions for all elderly individuals.
Describe teh trends of immigartion into the UK
From 1900 until the Second World War the largest immigrant group into England were the Irish, mainly for economic reasons.
There were also many European Jews who were often refugees fleeing persecution. Very few immigrants were nonwhite during this time.
However, during the 1950s large numbers of black migrants arrived from the Caribbean and many Asians from the Indian subcontinent and East Africa.
One consequence of this more ethnically diverse society has been an increase in family diversity patterns.
describe the trends of emigration from the UK
From teh mid 16th century to 1980, the UK was a net exporter of people to areas such as the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, often for economic activties
What is the impact of migration on the UKs population structure
The UK's population continues to grow, partly as a result of immigration.
Immigration lowers the average age of the population and has a positive impact on the dependency ratio.
What is superdiversity by Vertoves
Since the 90s, migration has led to what Vertovec calls ‘super diversity’. Migrants now come from a much wider range of countries. Even with a single ethnic group, individuals differ in terms of their legal status, such as citizens as spouses.
describe the fminisation of migration
The feminisation of migration refers to the growing number of women migrating independently for work. Hochschild (2000) highlights global care chains, where women from poorer countries migrate to provide domestic and care work in wealthier nations, often leaving their own families behind.
Globalisation has increased demand for female migrant labour in childcare, elderly care, and domestic work, reinforcing traditional gender roles. While this allows middle-class women in developed countries to work, many migrant women face low pay, job insecurity, and exploitation, especially in unregulated sectors.
What is a transnational identity
Eriksen argues that globalisation has created more divers migration pattern, with back and forth movements of peopel though networks rather than permanent settlement in one country
As a result, migrants are less likely to see themselves as belonging completely to one country. Instead, they may develop transnational identities. Modern technology also makes it possible to sustain global ties without having to travel
Describe assimilationism and multiculturalism relating to the politicisation of immigration
assimilationalism was the first state policy and apporach to immigration. It aimed to encourage immigrants to adopt the language, values and customs. However, this faces the problem of transnational migrants may be unwilling to change their identity
Multiculturalism accepts that migrants may wish to retain a sperate culture identity. however, in practicethis acceptance may be limited to more superficial aspects. Eriksne disntinguishes between shallow and deep diversity:
Shallow diversity, such as regarding chiken tika masala as Brittains national dish is acceptable to the state
Deep diversity such as arranged marriages or the veiling of women is not acceptabel to the state
How does Castles critique assimilationism
Castles critiques assimilationism for expecting migrants to fully adopt the host culture, ignoring their identities and the barriers they face, like discrimination. He supports multiculturalism, arguing that globalisation and transnationalism make full assimilation unrealistic, as migrants often maintain dual identities.
What are cohens 3 types of migrant
Cohen distinguishes between 3 different types of migrant:
citizens - full citizenship righst such as teh righ to work and vote
Deneziens - privelaged foreign nationsals welcomed by the state such as oligarchs
Helots - regarded by states and employers as ‘disposable unit of labour power’, a reserve army for labour
Provide examples of social policy links to family
China - Aimed to limit families to one child, supervised by workplace family planning committees. Women needed permission to get pregnant, with quotas for factories. Benefits for compliance included free child healthcare and higher tax allowances. Only children received education and housing priority. Breaking the policy led to fines and pressure for sterilisation.
Communist Romania - In the 1980s, Romania aimed to boost birth rates by restricting contraception and abortion, lowering the marriage age to 15, limiting divorce, and imposing a 5% income tax on unmarried or childless adults.
What is the functionalist perspective on family and social policy
Functionalists see society as based on harmony and shared values, with the state working for the common good. Social policies help families perform their roles more effectively.
Ronald Fletcher (1966) argues that health, education, and housing policies since the industrial revolution have strengthened family functions. For example, the NHS helps families care for sick members with access to doctors, hospitals, and medicine.
Criticisms of the functionalist view of family and social policy
Unequal benefits: Feminists argue social policies often favour men over women.
March of progress myth: Marxists claim policies can reverse progress, e.g., by cutting welfare for poor families
Define Gender Regimes in the context of family policy.
Gender Regimes are societal approaches that either encourage or discourage gender equality through social policies.
Thinker: Drew (1995) describes how social policies in different countries can either encourage or discourage gender equality in the family and workplace, impacting the division of labour. This is achieved through policies such as publicly funded childcare, care for the elderly, and maternity/paternity leave.
Explain Familistic Regimes
Policies are based on the male breadwinner and female homemaker model. There is often little state welfare for childcare or elderly care, with the traditional family expected to provide the majority of unpaid labor for care.
Example: Greece, where women are relied on to support their extended kin, and there is a traditional division of labor. It may be argued this upholds patriarchy and makes women dependent on their husbands.
How do social policies affect families?
Social policies promote or prevent equality, influencing family forms and women's independence. This can be seen through tax and benefit policies which may assume that men are the main wage earners, childcare policies, maternity leave, and care for the sick/elderly which can place women in a position of dependence on their partners, creating a gender pay gap, which is unfair.
What is the New Right's view on family policy?
The New Right sees the family as the bedrock of society. They are critical of policies undermining the traditional nuclear family and favor those that encourage marriage. Thinker: Almond (2006) argues that changes, such as the legalisation of same-sex partnerships and the recognition of unmarried cohabitants, threaten the traditional nuclear family.
What is the feminist view on family policy?
Feminists view society as patriarchal (male-dominated). They argue for policies that help maintain women's economic position and challenge the unequal division of labor, criticizing policies that reinforce traditional gender roles. They disagree that heterosexual parents are the norm as they believe different family types seem less valid. Instead, feminists support equal pay and anti-discrimination laws.
Give examples of policies supporting the traditional patriarchal nuclear family.
Tax and benefit policies may assume men are the main wage earners. Childcare policies may not be available to both working parents. Maternity leave policies may reinforce patriarchy as the responsibility of childcare lies more with mothers, and paternity leave is less generous which encourages the assumption that the care of infants is the responsibility of mothers rather than fathers. This may impact their economic dependence on their partners.
How can welfare policies influence a dependency culture?
Generous welfare benefits may undermine marriage and work incentives, leading to reliance on state support, especially for single parents. Thinker: Charles Murray argues welfare undermines the conventional family. Murray argues that these benefits offer 'perverse incentives' that undermine responsible and social behaviour which is seen as a major authority for a rise in the crime rate amongst young males.
What is the New Right solution to family issues?
Reduce welfare, lower taxes, support traditional families (married, heterosexual), and make parents responsible for children. Thinker: Hayton (2010) argues Conservative-led governments have been divided between modernisers and traditionalists who favour a New Right view of the family.
What criticisms do feminists have of New Right family policy?
Feminists argue that New Right thinking traps women and confines them to a domestic role, undermining their economic independence. Welfare cuts can significantly affect single mothers, who are more likely to live in poverty, as a result of this New Right thinking.
How have Conservative-led governments reflected the new right view on social policy
The New Right sees the family as the bedrock of society. They are critical of policies undermining the traditional nuclear family and favor those that encourage marriage. Thinker: Almond argues that state encouragement of family diversity threatens the conventional nuclear family. Government: Conservative-led governments have been divided between modernisers and traditionalists who favour a New Right view of the family, with government spending reflecting the prioritisation of heterosexual nuclear families.
What is the feminist view on family policy, and how does this contrast with policies affecting single mothers?
Feminists view society as patriarchal and argue for policies that maintain women's economic position and challenge the unequal division of labor. They disagree that heterosexual parents are the norm, believing diverse family types should be equally valued. Conversely, welfare cuts significantly affect single mothers, often increasing their likelihood of living in poverty due to New Right thinking.
How can welfare policies influence a dependency culture? What policies did New Labour introduce to counteract this?
Generous welfare benefits may undermine marriage and work incentives, leading to reliance on state support, especially for single parents. Thinker: Charles Murray argues that welfare undermines the conventional family. New Labour governments emphasized the need for parents to take responsibility for their children, as seen through the introduction of Parenting Orders for parents of truants and young offenders.
What is the New Right's solution to family issues? How have Conservative-led governments approached this?
Reduce welfare, lower taxes, support traditional families (married, heterosexual), and make parents responsible for children. Thinker: Hayton argues Conservative policies reflect a New Right view. Conservative-led governments have consisted of modernisers and traditionalists who favour a New Right view of the family.
What is Donzelot's perspective on the relationship between the family and state policies?
Donzelot offers a different perspective compared to functionalists. Rather than seeing policy as benefiting the family, he has a conflict view of society and sees policy as a form of state power and control over families.
Explain Donzelot's concept of the "policing of families."
The concept refers to how professionals like social workers exercise power using their expert knowledge to carry out surveillance and control/change families. This shows the importance of professional knowledge as a form of power and control.
What are the main criticisms of Donzelot's perspective?
Marxists and feminists criticize Donzelot for failing to identify who benefits from the policies of surveillance. Marxists say policies generally operate in the interests of the capitalist class, while feminists argue that men are the main beneficiaries.
Describe Parsons roles
Parsons identifies 2 roles, teh expressive and instrumental role. The expressive role is held by the woman, aimed at primary socialisation and meeting the families emotional needs. The instrumental role is the role of the man aimed at achieving success at work so he can prodivde for the family financially
Parsons argues that this division of labour is based on biological factors, with both being naturally suited to their roles
According to Wilmott and Young, in what reasons do they give to the rise of the symmetrical family
According to Wilmott and Young, the rise of the symmetrical family as a result of:
Changes in womens position, geographical mobility, new technology and higher standards of living
Evaluation of parsosn roles
Wilmott and Young argue that men are taking on a greater share of domestic tasks and women working more
Feminists argue that Parsons assumes that beacuse woemn birth children they are therefore best suited to raising them
Describe Bott’s 2 types of conjugal roles
Segregated conjugal roles are where the husband and wife have seperate roles and spend leisure time apart. This is more common in low income familie ssuch as shown in Wilmott and Young’s study of Bethnal Green
Joint conjugal roles is where the couple share tass such as childcare and have joint leisure activities
