Family diversity

• Symmetrical family- Willmott and Young


  Form of nuclear family that is privatised. Family spend most of the time in home and have little contact with extended kin. Conjugal roles supposedly more symmetrical
• Beanpole family- Brannen


  Type of nuclear family that isn't part of a wider extended kinship network due to families having fewer children
• Matrifocal family- Squire


  Defines matrifocal family as one that is headed by the mother, mainly found in low-income communities
• Reconstituted family- Allan et al


  Suggest reconstituted family is a fairly problematic and complicated structure. Children with new 'step' siblings may conflict, difficulties regarding authority with 'step' parent
• Single-parent family- Mooney et al


  suggests parental conflict can have more detrimental effect on child development than parental separation. Single parent may provide more stability
• Living Apart Together- Duncan and Phillips


  LATs show how young people prefer to maintain a level of individualism
• Same-sex relationships- Dunne 


  States lesbian households most likely to be symmetrical due to lack of traditional assumptions made about roles of each partner
• The Rapoport's CLOGS: Claim that due to changes caused by globalisation + postmodern world, family diversity is norm. Types: CLOGS- cultural, life stage, organisation, generational, social class diversity
• Giddens- family diversity= norm, individuals free to form 'pure relationships' that bring happiness rather than empty shell marriages
• Life Course


  Life course= social phases we progress through, throughout our lives.

  Carol Smart- suggests increasing individuals are able to make choices about their life courses to plan and make own choices