Change in norms & values - diversity

Question 1

Decline in nuclear & rise of single parents - Murray

Answer 1

E - Murray argues the rise of single parent families, especially those headed by mothers, stems from an overgenerous welfare state and a developing ‘dependency culture.’
E - He believes traditional family values have eroded, encouraging women to raise children without mayo, partners, reflecting how social values around marriage and childbearing have evolved.
E - However, these changes reflect female empowerment and growing independence rather than moral decline. Feminists Age women, an hour, less economically and socially, dependent on men, and two single parenthood as a valid alternative to the patriarchal marriage.

Question 2

Neo-conventional family & negotiated roles - Chester

Answer 2

E - Chester argues that whilst the family forms appear to be more diverse, the ‘neo-conventional’ family has become the new norm - a dual earner family with joint conjugal roles.
E - This shows that there has been a shift in values towards more equal gender roles within the family, influenced by feminism and changing workplace expectations. People are more likely to negotiate their roles and responsibilities, rather than follow rigid traditional scripts, leading to diversity in how families operate. Postmodernists such as Beck and Giddens argue families today are more ‘negotiated’ and based on individual preferences rather than tradition, resulting in a wider range of family types.
E - However, critics argue despite more diverse structures, traditional gender norms still exist in todays society. Feminists show women, even in dual-earner households, still take on the majority of unpaid labour.

Question 3

Individualisation & Pure relationships - Giddens

Answer 3

E - Giddens suggests that late modernity society has witnessed a shift away from fixed roles towards greater personal choice. Relationships are now based on ‘pure relationship’ - maintained only if both partners are satisfied.
E - This reflects post-traditional values where people prioritise emotional fulfillment over obligation. This has led to an increase in cohabitation, same sex families, one person households, serial monogamy etc.
E - However, Budgeon (2011) argues the idea of unlimited choice is misleading, especially for women. Societal pressures and economic constraints still shape decisions e.g. women may remain in a relationship for financial stability or fear of stigma.

Question 4

Five types of diversity - Rappoprts (1982)

Answer 4

E - The Rappoprts argues diversity is now the number of in the exception in British society. 5 types - Organizational, cultural, class, life stage, generational.
E - These categories show how shifting norms around gender roles, cultural inclusion and lifestyle choices have made space for a wide range of legitimate family types e.g. cultural diversity - higher proportion of female headed lone-parent families among Black Caribbean swell as a higher proportion of extended families amongst Asian households.
E - However, Parsons offers a clear counter argument, suggesting despite increased diversity, the nuclear family remains essential in society for performing functions. this implies many families, even if appearing diverse on the surface, may still replicate traditional nuclear norms, meaning change is more superficial than the Rappoprts claim.