Rapoports: five types of family diversity

• Rapoport and Rapoport 1982
• diversity is of central importance in understanding British families today
• we have moved away from the conventional nuclear family
• families in Britain have adapted to a pluralistic society
• family diversity reflects greater freedom of choice and the widespread acceptance of other cultures
• diversity is a positive response to different peoples needs and not abnormal
• Five types of family diversity:

  1. organisational diversity
  2. cultural diversity
  3. social class diversity
  4. life stage diversity
  5. generational diversity
• Organisational Diversity?

  differences in the ways family roles are organised
• Cultural Diversity?


  different cultural, religious and ethnic groups have different structures
• Social Class Diversity?

  differences in family structure due to income differences or social class differences
• Life Stage Diversity?

  family structures change depending on the stage of life
• Generational Diversity?

  older and younger generations have different attitudes and experiences of marriage that reflect the historical period they have lived