2.3 Family Diversity

• Family diversity

  The idea that there are a range of family types rather than just the nuclear family
• Modernism

  Refers to a particular era in history. It's an era characterised by scientific thought rather than supernatural belief, individualism, industrialisation, technical development & rejection of some traditional values
• How do the new right & functionalism see the modernist family?

  They see it as having a fixed & predictable structure and that the nuclear family maintains society's functions & shapes the behaviours of its members through a lack of choice
• What do functionalists think about the modernist family?

  -There's a 'functional fit' between nuclear family & modern society

  -Family meets the socially & geographically mobile needs of society

  -They make generalisations about the nuclear family (DDOL)

  -Other family types are dysfunctional/abnormal
• What do the new right think about the modernist family?

  -Conservative & anti feminist

  -Traditional/conventional nuclear family ('natural')

  -Oppose changes in family patterns & say the decline of the nuclear family is due to social problems

  -Single parent families are harmful to children
• What do the new right think the cause of single parent families is?

  The collapse of relationships between cohabiting couples
• What statistic did Benson find about the collapse of relationships?


  In the 1st 3 years as parents, 20% of cohabiting couples have relationship breakdown compared to 6% of married couples
• What did Benson say about why marriage is more stable?


  because it requires a deliberate commitment to one another whereas cohabitation allows couples to avoid commitment and ignore responsibility. he therefore argues that the government should introduce policies that support marriage
• What is Ann Oakley's viewpoint?


  She thinks that the new right wrongly assume that husbands' & wives' roles are fixed by biology but cross-cultural studies show variation of roles between partners

  -It's based on patriarchal oppression of women & a fundamental cause of gender inequality as it prevents women working to rely on their husbands
• What does Smart say about cohabitation & class?


  Cohabitation is higher among poor families so it may be poverty that ends relationships
• What is the 'neo-conventional family'?

  a dual-earner family (both partners work & play instrumental role) similar to young & willmott's symmetrical family
• What did Chester say about the neo-conventional family?


  while there has been increased family diversity it is neither significant nor a cause for concern, and the only important change is the move from the nuclear family to the neo-conventional family. most couples still view the nuclear family as the end goal
• What is evidence for Chester?


  most people live in a household headed by a married couple

  most adults marry and have children, and most children are raised by two biological parents

  most marriages continue until death and most divorcees remarry
• What are the 5 types of Rapoports' family diversity?


  Cultural diversity

  Organisational (roles)

  Class

  Life-stage diversity (families change according to the life stage)

  Generational diversity
• Postmodernity

  Society has progressed to an era beyond modernity & people have more choice in their lifestyles
• What did Stacey say about postmodern families?


  -Greater freedom & choice has benefitted women & has allowed them to shape their family arrangements to meet their needs

  -Stacey used life history interviews to make case studies of post modern families in Silicon Valley, California

  -Many women she interviewed rejected the traditional housewife role

  -The women had divorced & remarried & created new families to suit their needs

  -Stacey calls this the 'divorce extended family' where members are connected by divorce instead of marriage
• What was Stacey's example of a divorce-extended family?

  -Pam Gamma was married young, then divorced, cohabited and remarried

  -Her children were grown up & she formed a divorce-extended family with her ex-husbands wife

  -They would help each other out domestically & financially
• What is the individualisation thesis?

  Beck & Giddens

  - We have individual freedom - we can do what we want. We have choice over a lot of different aspects of our lives
• What did Giddens say about of family & marriage have been transformed?


  in the past traditional family relationships were bound by external forces such as the laws governing the marriage contract and strong cultural and religious norms against divorce and sex outside of marriage. in contrast today couples are free to define relationships themselves

  contraception has allowed sex and intimacy as opposed to just reproduction

  women have gained independence due to feminism and more opportunities in school and employment
• What did Beck say about the negotiated family?


  He said that we now live in a 'risk society' where tradition has less influence & people have more choice. As a result, we are more aware of risk & develop a 'risk consciousness' of different courses of action available
• What did Beck say about what families were like in the past?


  In the past families were dictated by norms and religion as well as patriarchal values, which led to an oppressive but stable and predictable basis for family life where the role of each member was defined
• What does the personal life perspective say about then postmodern family?

  -Criticises the individualisation thesis as it exaggerates how much freedom people now have

  -Says the thesis ignores that our decisions are made in a social context

  -Says it ignores structural factors like social class & gender norms
• What is Smart's connectedness theory?


  we live within networks of pre-existing relationships and personal histories that influence our range of choice within relationships
• What percentage of the U.K. population are minority ethnic groups?

  14% in 2011