family diversity

modernism perspective

society has a fairly predictable structure and that its possible to gain true scientific knowledge of society and its functions

modernist theories (old theories)

functionalists and marxists

late modernism (old with some new)

neomarxists and interpretivism

post modernist (new theories)

action theories - labelling and individualism

why did late modernist and post modernism

globalisation

parsons : the functional fit theory

the functions that the family performs depend on the society

parsons FFT for a modern society

family type = nuclear family

functions = primary socialisation and stabilisation of adult personalities

do functionalists like family diversity?

no

what do the new right believe is the cause of many social problems?

the decline of the traditional nuclear family and the increase of family diversity

why are new right sociologists concerned of the growth of lone parent families?

they think they are harmful to children

why do the new right think lone parent families are harmful to children?

1) lone mothers can’t discipline

2) boys don’t have a male role model

3) burden on the welfare state

Benson (2006)

only marriage can provide a stable environment to bring up children

Benson (2010)

couples are more stable when they are married

cohabitation allows couples to avoid commitment and responsibility

Oakley evaluation

New Right sociologists wrongly assume that husband and wives roles are fixed biologically and ignore patriarchal oppression of women

Smart evaluation

poverty causes breakdown of relationships rather than the decision not to marry

Chester - view on family diversity

there has been an increase in family diversity but it’s not significant

what does Chester regard as the only important change

the move from the traditional pal nuclear family to the neo conventional family

what is the neoconventional family?

a dual learner family where both partners go out to work

what other family is the neo-conventional family similar too? family type and sociologists

the symmetrical family , willmott and young

what main factor is the reason why most people aren’t apart of the nuclear family

life cycle

statistics that back up Chester’s view on not much has changed

1) most households are headed by a married couple

2) most marriages last until death

3) most adults marry in order to have children

Thane - ‘myth of the nuclear family’

challenges the idea that the nuclear family as ever the norm in the first place

Rapoport and Rapoport - 5 types of family diversity are :

1) organisational

2) cultural

3) class

4) life course

5) cohort

organisational

how the family organises itself in terms of roles they perform

organisational examples

traditional male - dominated roles and symmetrical family

cultural

families differ in terms of beliefs and values

cultural example

some ethnic groups put a greater emphasis on family than others

class

writings about the family assume family life is all experienced the same

class example

available resources and housing quality

life course

they point out that we don’t remain the in the same family structure our whole lives

life course example

lone parent become blended

nuclear becomes empty nest

cohort

change overtime of what is the social norm

cohort example

early generations have many kids and later generations have much fewer