Family Diversity

Question 1

Diversity - Modernism + the family

Answer 1

• Family has a predictable structure
- NF works best in modern world
• Functionalist - Parsons –> Other family types are dysfunctional
• New Right –> Opposed to changes in its structure

Question 2

Diversity - New Right - Benson

Answer 2

• Traditional NF is the best
- biologically natural
- Lone Parents can’t discipline + are a burden on welfare state
• Benson –> Cohabiting couples are 20% more likely to break down than married
- divorce laws, gay marriage + welfare undermine NF

Question 3

Diversity - Evaluating New Right - Oakley

Answer 3

• Family roles aren’t fixed by biology
• Internationally male + female roles vary in Nuclear Fam
• Feminists –> Family supports patriarchy + new right seek to enforce it
• Lack of evidence –> no evidence children from lone-parent families are more likely to be criminal

Question 4

Diversity - Types of Family Diversity - Rapoport

Answer 4

• Organisational –> differences in role organisation
• Cultural –> Different cultures have different structures
• Class –> different structures result from different income
• Life-Stage –> structures different according to stage reached
• Generational –> older + younger have different attitudes + experiences

Question 5

Diversity - Individualisation - Postmoder - Giddens + Beck

Answer 5

• Modernism had fixed roles + life courses
• Postmodernism gives individual more choice
- women’s independence, unstructured soc

Question 6

Diversity - Postmodern Families + Choice - Stacy - Divorce Extended

Answer 6

• People have more freedom + choice when structuring families
- Divorce extended - family connects through divorce

Question 7

Diversity - Postmodern + Pure Relationships - Giddens

Answer 7

• Relationships used to be centred around law, religion + trad values
• Now, based on indiv choice
• Exists solely to satisfy each partners needs
- couples stay together because of love rather than duty

Question 8

Diversity - Postmodern + Risk Society - Beck

Answer 8

• Now live in a risk soc
- tradition is less influential + people have more choice (Calculate risks + rewards)
• In past men breadwinner, women do housework - unequal + oppressive

Question 9

Diversity - Postmodern + Negotiated Family - Beck + Beck-Gernsheim

Answer 9

• Don’t conform to traditional norms
• Enter relationship on equal basis
- less stable –> leave if needs not met
• Developed due to patriarchal fam being undermined by: gender equality + individualism

Question 10

Diversity - Evaluating Post Modern Views - Personal Life Perspective - May + Smart

Answer 10

• More diversity but individualisation thesis is wrong
- May –> not everyone has same amount of choice - still pressured by trad norms + poverty limits choice
- Smart –> Connected Thesis - family choice made in context of relationships + staying together for kids

Question 11

Diversity - Evaluating Postmodernism - Feminists/Marxists

Answer 11

• Trad gender roles + class division still exists