Change in norms and value led to diversity

Question 1

Decline of traditional nuclear family - New Right

Answer 1

E - New Right see the nuclear family as a cornerstone of society: place of harmony and argue the decline and rise of family diversity has led to social problems such as the growth of lone parent families.
E - This is an issue as it has led to a ‘dependency culture’ which he sees undermining nuclear family due to their being no ‘male provider’. This shows how changing values has led to diversity suggesting norms around marriage have shifted.
E - Oakley (1997) argues this view is a negative reaction against fem campaigns for women’s equality and they wrangle assume these roles are fixed by biology.

Question 2

Individualistion thesis - Beck & Giddens

Answer 2

E - Beck and Giddens explore the effects of individual choice increasing upon families and relationships e.g. past fixed by gender roles but today and have fewer fixed roles to follow.
E - This reflects changing norms around love, commitment with people being more likely to cohabit or separate and form same sex partnerships which all are examples of change in societal norms leading to diversity.
E - Budgeon (2011) argues how this reflects neoliberal ideology that individuals have complete freedom off choice bur in reality traditional norms that limit peoples choice have not weakened and many still abide.

Question 3

Neo-conventional family - Chester

Answer 3

E - Chester argues the only importing change is shift from conventional nuclear to neo-conventional - sees fam diversity as not significant, people who are not par of nuclear is due to life cycle e.g. death, unmarried.
E - While this does show a shift in values, most people still go through life stages like marriage, cohabitation and parenthood in conventional ways therefore diversity is more about timing than permanent change.
E - Stacey (1998) argues postmodern society has allowed them to reject traditional family structured all together and from her research in California finding women were openly choosing to be part of a single parent family, same sex etc.

Question 4

Types of diversity - Rapoport & Rapoport (1982)

Answer 4

E - Diversity is increasing due to cultural changes, identify five types of diversity: cultural, class, life-stage, oraganisational and generational all influenced by shift in gender norms, ethnicity etc.
E - The rise in cultural diversity has brought different norms around marriage and extended family roles specially in South Asian with higher extended families and African Caribbean female headed lone parent families. Generational changes also show how younger people are more accepting of a same sex marriage and non-marital cohabitation, reflecting wider shifts in societal values.
E - Parsons argues the nuclear family still remains essential to keep society functioning due to I providing socialisation and stabilisation of adult personalities.