Family diversity-changing family patterns

• What is the main focus of the study material regarding family diversity?

  It discusses which family types are becoming more common and which are becoming less common.
• What trend has been observed in the variety of family types in Britain since the mid-20th century?

  The variety of family types has increased significantly.
• What are two of the biggest increases in household types in Britain?

  Single-person households and lone-parent households.
• What is the majority structure of lone-parent households in Britain?

  The vast majority are matrilocal families where women are the head.
• By how much did single-person households increase from 2003 to 2013?

  Single-person households increased by 500,000.
• What is the fastest growing household type in Britain?

  Multi-family households.
• By what percentage did multi-family households increase between 2004 and 2014?

  54%.
• What is a beanpole family?

  A family where multiple generations live together, often including grandparents and grandchildren.
• How many couples were cohabiting in the UK by 2012?

  1. 9 million couples.
• What are the two overall patterns regarding family diversity in the UK?

  1. There has been an increase in the diversity of families.
  2. The nuclear family remains the most common type, although its proportion is decreasing.
• What are the five types of family diversity identified by Rapoport and Rapoport?

  Organisational diversity, cultural diversity, class diversity, life-course diversity, and cohort diversity.
• What does organizational diversity refer to?

  Differences in the way families are structured, such as nuclear or extended families.
• How does cultural diversity affect family structures?

  It arises from the different norms and values of various cultures.
• What is life-course diversity?

  Diversity caused by the different stages people have reached in their lives.
• What does cohort diversity refer to?

  Differences created by the historical periods families have lived through.
• What does Giddens argue about individual choice in family relationships?

  Individual choice dictates family relationships, leading to greater diversity.
• What has contributed to the increase in family diversity according to postmodernists?

  The belief that there is no longer a single dominant family structure and that society is highly diverse.
• How have improvements in women's rights affected family structures?

  They have resulted in more choices regarding relationships.
• What is the trend regarding marriage rates since the early 20th century?

  Marriage rates have fallen, reaching the lowest number in 2009.
• What happened to marriage rates after 2010?

  The marriage rate began to increase again.
• What does the term "living apart together" refer to?

  People in serious relationships who are not cohabiting or married.
• By how many years did the average age of marriage increase between 1971 and 2011?

  8 years.
• What demographic contributes significantly to single-person households?

  Widowed pensioners.
• What percentage of marriages in England and Wales end in divorce?

  More than 40%.
• What trend has been observed in the percentage of marriages ending in divorce since 2000?

  The percentage has fallen.
• What is serial monogamy?

  Having several serious sexual relationships one after another.
• What is an empty-shell marriage?

  A marriage that has broken down but the couple still stays married and lives together.
• What are the social, cultural, and political factors explaining the increase in divorce rates in the UK?

  • Divorce has become easier to obtain.
  • Divorce is more socially acceptable.
  • Women have higher expectations of marriage.
  • Better employment opportunities reduce financial dependency on husbands.
  • Marriages focus more on individual emotional fulfillment.
• What does the term "cohabiting" refer to?

  Living together in a romantic relationship without being married.
• What is the trend regarding the population of the UK in relation to single-person households?

  The population is aging, contributing to the increase in single-person households.
• What is the significance of statistics in understanding family trends?

  Statistics help identify which family types are increasing or decreasing.