Family diversity and change/trends (marriage, divorce and cohabitation)

Nuclear family

Mother, father and children living as a unit. linked to functionalism

Symmetrical family

Willmott and Young - based on nuclear but privatised and roles are equal

lone parent family

New right and Murray

Bean Pole family

Brannen - more women working, falling birth rates and death rates

matrifocal family

Squire - headed by mother. USA 30% of this type is black

Augustus - black men have lots of kids with dif women as symbolism of virility and masculinity. Also no responsibility

reconstituted family

step family

dual career family

both parents have careers

cereal packet family

idealised image created by advertisers

Functionalism on social policy

Fletcher - free compulsory school and healthcare is used to assist the family

New Right on social policy

Murray - state minimal intervention. damages traditional family by promoting deviant families

Feminism (Liberal) on social policy

Sharpe and Oakley - equal opportunity polices helped increase equality within family

Feminism (Radical) on social policy

Drew et al - polices reinforce patriarchy.

two types - traditional gender regimes e.g no free childcare in Spain + Individualistic gender regimes (opposite of first type)

Marxism on social policy

3 ways it serves interest of capitalism:

- hides/disguises exploitation

- maintains workforce, NHS keeps workers healthy

-buys off WC opposition and prevent revolt, welfare policies

Donzelot on social policy

Used to keep surveillance on family to prevent juvenile delinquency and crime. ensures production of psychologically well adjusted children

How many people got married in 1972?

480,000

How many people married in 2009

approx 231,000

How many same sex couples married (ONS)

15,000

What year was the Marriage (Same-Sex Couples) Act

2013

Reasons for decline in marriage

Changes in attitude (cohabitation, careers etc)

Secularisation

Cost of weddings

Epstein on Cultural Differences in Marriage (Asian communities = arranged)

claimed these relationships more stable then love based marriages due to rational matchmaking

New Right Morgan on marriage

believed marriage is essential as it promotes morality and obligations. Also that stats showed married men more likely to be employed, earn more, live healthier then unmarried men. Also rejects same sex marriage as it undermines church

Marxist-Feminist Barrett on marriage

women deceived about positives of marriage at childhood, traps them in domestic life