5⃣Changing Patterns And Family Diversity 4) Perspective on family diversity Flashcards
Give an evaluation of functionalism and new right view on family diversity
⚫️feminist argue
➡️nuclear family and its gender roles
➡️not natural
➡️but socially constructed
⚫️they see new right opposition to diversity
➡️ideology justifying patriarchal oppression
What is the functionalism and new right view on family diversity
⚫️other family types seen as unnatural
➡️producing social problems
⚫️e.g.
➡️lone parent families
➡️lack adult male role model
➡️lead to dependency culture and delinquency
⚫️generous welfare benefits
➡️encourages these deviant family types
Describe chester: neo-conventional family
⚫️although there are increased diversity
➡️nuclear family remain dominant
⚫️only important change ➡️from conventional family ➡️with male breadwinner ➡️to neo-conventional family ➡️with both spouses work
⚫️nuclear family remains norm
➡️that most people aspire to
⚫️most still marry
➡️bring up their kids as couple
➡️and dont divorce
⚫️cohabitation increased
➡️but only a temporary phase
➡️most divorcees re-marry
⚫️those not currently in nuclear family
➡️will be, or have been
⚫️statistics on households composition
➡️just a snapshot
➡don’t show these changes in individuals life changes
Describe the rapoports: five types of diversity
⚫️disagree with chester
➡️see diversity as central to family today
⚫️unlike new right
➡️the rapoports see meeting peoples needs
➡️not causing family decline
⚫️they identify 5 types of diversity:
⚫️Organisational
➡️e.g joint or segregated conjugal roles
⚫️cultural
➡️e.g. Ethnic groups have different family structures
⚫️class
➡️e.g. Differences in child-rearing practices
⚫️life cycle differences
➡️e.g. Pensioner couples, parents with young children
⚫️generational differences
➡️e.g. Attitudes to cohabition
Whats postmodernist view on family diversity
⚫️unlike in modern society
➡(️where functionalists saw the nuclear family as dominant)
➡️in postmodern society
➡️there is no one dominant family type
⚫️this is due to
➡️more choice in relationships
➡️e.g. We can stay single, cohabit, divorce etc
➡️leading to more diverse family structures
Give an evaluation of post modernist view on family diversity
⚫️they underestimate
➡️how far inequality and oppression
➡️restrict peoples choice
➡️e.g. ➡️divorce lets women escape oppression ➡️but society still patriarchal ➡️so they'll end up low paid ➡️and childcare responsibility
Describe a sociologist who have been influenced by the postmodernist ideas
⚫️giddens argue
➡️ contraception and women’s independence
➡bought greater choice and equality to relationships
⚫️couples define relationships
➡️to meet their own needs
➡️rather than defined by law, tradition or solely for production of children.
➡️this means it lasts as long as it continues to meet their own needs
➡️so increased choice brings increased instability
How does contraception and women’s independence increase choice in relationships
⚫️financial independence
➡️means they are able to leave if unhappy
Explain why beck see society today as a risk society
⚫️people have more choice
➡️so more aware of the risk
⚫️in the past, people had little choice
➡expected to marry
➡️play conventional gender roles
➡️in a traditional patriarchal family
⚫️but patriarchal family now undermined by:
➡️greater gender equality
➡️individualism-self interest now governs our actions
What is the negotiated family
⚫️equality and individualism ➡️creating new family type 'negotiated family' ➡️not fixed ➡️varies according to its members wishes ➡️more equal than patriarchal family
Why is negotiated family less stable
⚫️more emphasis on individual needs
➡️not those of the family/couple
⚫️individual can leave if their needs not met
➡️resulting more divorce, lone parents etc
Explain why post modernist reject the new right view that nuclear family is the only genuine family type
⚫️diversity is good
➡️allows people to choose relationships
➡️to meet their own needs
➡️enables women to escape oppression
⚫️the family covers many different forms
➡️whatever arrangements
➡️those involved call a family
➡️is a family
