F&R Topic 10-Debates about family diversity

• What is the debate?

  The extent to which families are diversifying (families are diverse/ families are not that diverse and are still NF)
• Families are increasingly diversifying- Giddens: reflexivity & confluent love


  R- we are constantly questioning our happiness, decisions and (family) choices and whether they are unsatisfactory for us this leads to different family forms as people seek family forms away from the NF that fulfil them

  
  

  CL-people seek confluent love where the non-traditional relationships are found outside of marriage, temporary and fragile so this leads to people moving around different family types and relationships
• Families are increasingly diversifying- Beck and Beck-Gernsheim: Risk Society & Individualisation


  R-relationships and children within the nuclear family are seen as a risk so we avoid these risks and choose family forms that are not risky such as cohabiting, living alone or living with friends

  
  

  I-we made decisions and seek other families away from the nuclear family that suit our different individual needs based on our circumstance leading to diversity
• Families are increasingly diversifying-Judith Stacey: Pam and Dotty- The Postmodern family STORY

  PAM

  -married in the 1950s

  -worked for £

  -1970s went to college, exposed to feminism

  -questioned relationships

  -leaves husband

  -remarries having an egalitarian (equal) relationships

  -has close relationships with ex husband's new partner

  
  

  DOTTY

  -married in the 1950s

  -worked for £

  -1970s went to college, exposed to feminism

  -questioned relationships

  - abused then leaves husband

  -takes him back but only on condition that he does the housework

  -husband dies from heart attack, she's a widow

  -two adult kids die

  -gets custody of deceased daughter's children against abusive father

  -lives with surviving daughter who's a single mum and deceased daughter's children= extended family
• Families are increasingly diversifying-Judith Stacey: Pam and Dotty- The Postmodern family POINTS


  -ethnographic study

  -took place in Silicon valley, California=land of tech + progressive (PM)

  
  

  -NF is a myth and is declining

  -pos abt family diversity

  -NF devalues other family types

  -often new family types replace others

  -individuals can choose family types according to their needs and circumstances

  -people go through many types of families in one lifetime= fluid/ constantly change

  -people define what family means to them
• Diversity has been exaggerated-The neo-conventional family: Chester


  -neo= new/updated

  -most ppl still want an NF

  -most fam types are still NF in some form (same-sex, cohabiting, reconstituted)

  -NF has been updated

  -stats that show the decline in NF are misleading bc theyre a snapshot of that year

  -ppl will at some stage in their life have a NF

  
  

  -NF is still the dominant type its just been updated and upgraded

  -ppl still aspire to have NF

  -NF is still the model family
• Diversity has been exaggerated-Gittins: Family ideology

  -similar views to functionalism

  -powerful ideology of the NF still exists

  -NF still most dominant+ desirables, reinforced by ALL AGENTS

  
  

  -NF ideology so strong it deters other types of families

  -other fam forms seen as undesirable

  -women who reject NF are condemned by trad sections of soc and mass media
• Diversity has been exaggerated-Leach: the cereal packet family

  -MEDIA portrays NF as norm through ads, tv shows, movies, kids books, magazines

  -Cereal packet families= NF used to sell products, portrayed as perfect/happy/smiling

  -fams are portrayed by media in stereotypical roles

  
  

  -media makes us want an NF

  -ideology of NF is very strong its seen as the ideal type of fam

  -media encourages us to aspire for a NF bc that us what family life should be like