Family diversity

Parsons -- functionalism

Parsons -- functionalism

‘Functional fit’ between nuclear family and modern society

→ Family performs irreducible functions

• Primary socialisation of children

• Stabilisation of adult personalities

→ Nuclear family is best at performing these functions; other families are dysfunctional

Chester -- functionalism

Increased family diversity; shift from traditional nuclear family to neo-conventional family

→ Dual earning family; both spouses wortk

→ This is the only major change, and most people still spend a major part of their lives in a nuclear family

• Cohab is usually temporary

• Most adults marry and have kids

Rapoports -- functionalism

Five types of diversity in Britain today:

→ Organisational; diff ways family roles are organised e.g. conjugal roles

→ Cultural; diff cultures/religions/ethnic groups with dif family structures e.g. LP Afro-Car. families

→ Class; income differences may affect family structure/child-rearing

→ Life stage; structures differ based on stage in life cycle e.g. young newlyweds vs couples with dependent children

→ Generational; older/younger generations with diff attitudes/experiences

New Right beliefs on the nuclear family

→ TNC is the only correct one; married couple with breadwinner husband, homemaker wife

• Natureal, based on biological differences between genders

→ Oppose family pattern changes eg cohabitation/lone parenthood

→ HATE LP families; result from breakdown fo couples, harmful to children

• LP mothers cant discipline children properly

• Boys lack male role model; educational failure, delinquency

• More likely to be poorer; burdens welfare state

Benson -- New Right

Marriage is more stable and requires deliberate commitment

→ Cohabitation lets parents avoid commitment; only marriage can provide a good environment to raise kids

→ Says a return to traditional marital values can prevent damage to children

→ Govt needs to encourage couples to marry via policy

→ Main cause of LPs is collapse of relationships between cohab. couples

Criticisms of the New Right

→ Nuclear family is based on oppression of women

→ No evidence LP children more likely to be delinquent

→ Oakley; assuming marital roles are fixed by biology is incorrect

Cheal -- postmodernism

We are now in postmodern society; individuals have more choice over their lifestyles/relationships

→ Freedom to plot life course; leads to greater instability

→ Rapid social change/diversity means we cant generatlise

Stacey -- postmodernism

Greater freedom/choice benefits women as they can free themselves from patriarchal oppression

→ Women are main agents of change in family; e.g. rejecting trad housewife role

→ Divorce extended family; members connected by divorce, not marriage

• Shows postmodern families are diverse based on choices people make about how to live their lives

Beck -- postmodernism/individualisation thesis

Standard life course people followed in the past has been replaced

→ Traditional structures have lost influence over us

→ e.g. people are no longer expected to marry/follow gender roles as much

Giddens -- postmodernism/individualisation thesis

Marriage/family has changes due to

→ Contraception; sex for intimacy as well as reproduction

→ Feminism; gives women independence/greater opportunities

Individualisation thesis -- postmodernism

→ Basis of family/marriage has changed; couples dont just act out traditional roles

→ Pure relationships; couples stay together due to love/happiness, will leave if they dont have this

Same sex couples as pioneers -- postmodernism/individualisation thesis

→ Leads to new family types which arem ore equal/democratic

→ Not influenced by tradition as much as heterosexual relationships; families serve their needs rather than simply conforming to norms

Weston -- postmodernims/same sex couples

‘Families of choice’ consisting of friends/exes/biological kin

Weeks -- postmodernism/same sex couples

Friendship as kinship for gay people

Beck -- postmodernims/negotiated family

Negotiated family has no traditional norms; performs to the needs of its members

→ More equal, but less stable as people will leave if they want

→ Traditional family undermined by greater gender equality/individualism

→ Zombie family; appears alive, but really is dead

• People want family to be a haven of security, but instability prevents this

Smart -- postmodern/personal life perspective

More family diversity, but individualisation thesis exaggerates how much choice we have

→ Still limited by traditional norms

→ eg structural factors like class/patriarchy

May -- postmodern/personal life perspective

Giddens/Beck’s view of individuals is an idealised version of a white, m/c man

→ Not everyone has ability to exercise choice over relationships

Smart -- postmodern/connectedness thesis

We make choices ‘within a web of connectedness’

→ Existing relationships/personal histories influence our choices in relationships

Finch & Mason -- postmodern/connectedness thesis

Family challenges pure relationships

→ Cant necessarily walk away at will

Class/gender and connectedness thesis

→ This limits our choices

→ Gender norms usually limit women as they have custody of children; less free to start new relaitonships

Giddens & Beck -- postmodern/power of structures

Disappearance/weakening of structures that traditionally controlled our lives

May -- postmodern/power of structures

Actually, structures aren't disappearing, but being reshaped

→ Women dont have it all; still influenced by patriarchy

→ Trend to greater diversity, but PLP says structural factors still important