Changing Patterns And Family Diversity

Question 1

What is a Nuclear Family?

Answer 1

A family unit consisting of two parents and their children

Typically seen as the traditional family structure.

Question 2

What characterizes an Extended Family?

Answer 2

Includes additional relatives beyond the nuclear family, such as grandparents, aunts, and uncles

Often living together or in close proximity.

Question 3

Define Co-habitation.

Answer 3

A living arrangement where an unmarried couple lives together in a long-term relationship

Often seen as an alternative to marriage.

Question 4

What is a Lone-Parent Family?

Answer 4

A family led by a single parent raising one or more children

Can result from separation, divorce, or choice.

Question 5

What defines a Reconstituted Family?

Answer 5

A family formed when one or both partners have children from previous relationships

Often referred to as a blended family.

Question 6

What is a Single Person Household?

Answer 6

A living arrangement consisting of one individual living alone

This category has been increasing in modern society.

Question 7

What does ‘Patriarchal’ mean in the context of family structures?

Answer 7

A family system in which the father or eldest male has authority over the family

This contrasts with matriarchal systems.

Question 8

What is a Matriarchal family?

Answer 8

A family system in which the mother or eldest female has authority

Less common than patriarchal families.

Question 9

What are Negotiated Families?

Answer 9

Families where roles and responsibilities are agreed upon by family members rather than predetermined by tradition

Reflects modern views on gender roles.

Question 10

What is an Empty Shell Marriage?

Answer 10

A marriage in which the partners continue to live together but have little or no emotional connection

Often leads to separation or divorce.

Question 11

What does ‘Singleton’ refer to in family structures?

Answer 11

An individual who lives alone and is not currently in a committed relationship

Often used in discussions of social living arrangements.

Question 12

What is a Neo-conventional Family?

Answer 12

A family structure where both partners work and share responsibilities

Reflects changes in gender roles and economic conditions.

Question 13

According to Felicity Edholm, what is the nature of family?

Answer 13

The family is socially constructed and influenced by cultural norms, economic systems, and life cycles

Highlights the variability in kinship systems.

Question 14

What is the significance of the Israeli kibbutz in understanding family structures?

Answer 14

Children are raised communally, showing that non-family organizations can fulfill family functions

Challenges traditional notions of family.

Question 15

In the context of the Lakker of Burma, how are children viewed?

Answer 15

Children are not seen as having a blood relationship with their mother; the mother is viewed as a container

Illustrates cultural differences in kinship.

Question 16

What did Young and Willmott identify as the three stages of family development in the UK?

Answer 16

• The pre-industrial family: a production unit
• The early industrial family: disrupted economic unity
• The privatised nuclear family: emerged in the 20th century

Their research highlights the evolution of family structures.

Question 17

What is the ‘cereal packet’ image of the family?

Answer 17

The isolated nuclear family seen as typical in industrial societies

Parsons argued this image is misleading due to family diversity.

Question 18

What is the ‘beanpole’ family?

Answer 18

A family structure that is extended vertically through three generations but excludes aunts and cousins

Results from smaller families and increased life expectancy.

Question 19

What does Chester argue about the nuclear family?

Answer 19

The nuclear family remains dominant but has shifted to a neo-conventional model where both partners work

Indicates a change in family dynamics.

Question 20

What trends are observed in cohabitation and marriage in the UK?

Answer 20

• Decrease in first marriages
• Increase in cohabitation
• Rise in births outside marriage

Reflects changing societal norms.

Question 21

What was the percentage of births outside marriage in 2019?

Answer 21

50% of all births

This marks a significant increase from previous decades.

Question 22

What is the average age for heterosexual marriage in 2020?

Answer 22

35.7 years for women and 38 years for men

Indicates a trend towards later marriages.

Question 23

What does the term ‘Pure Relationship’ refer to?

Answer 23

A relationship that lasts only as long as both partners are happy, not dictated by tradition

Giddens’ concept reflects modern relationship dynamics.

Question 24

What effect did the Divorce Reform Act (1971) have on divorce rates?

Answer 24

Led to an increase in divorce rates due to easier access to divorce

Marked a significant change in societal attitudes towards marriage.

Question 25

What was the divorce rate in the UK in 2019?

Answer 25

7.5 per 1,000 ## Footnote The lowest level since 1975.

Question 26

What is the average length of a marriage in the UK as of 2022?

Answer 26

12.2 years ## Footnote Reflects changing views on marriage stability.

Question 27

What does the New Right perspective argue about the decline of marriage?

Answer 27

Blames moral decline and too much acceptance of diversity for the inability to commit ## Footnote Views this as detrimental to society.

Question 28

What economic factors contribute to the decline of marriage?

Answer 28

* Increasing cost of living * Rising property prices * High wedding costs ## Footnote These factors lead couples to delay marriage.

Question 29

What percentage of first marriages now end in divorce?

Answer 29

40%

Question 30

What legal change in 1857 made divorce easier?

Answer 30

Matrimonial Causes Act

Question 31

What concept was introduced by the Matrimonial Causes Act (1857)?

Answer 31

Marital crime

Question 32

What did the Divorce Reform Act (1971) change about divorce?

Answer 32

Partners must demonstrate 'irretrievable breakdown of marriage' after two years of separation

Question 33

What financial assistance was provided by the Legal Aid and Advice Act (1949)?

Answer 33

Financial assistance for divorce costs

Question 34

What significant change did the Divorcee, Dissolution and Separation Act (2020) implement?

Answer 34

Removed the need for separating couples to wait for years or allocate blame

Question 35

According to Fletcher (1966), what has led to higher divorce rates?

Answer 35

Higher expectations of marriage

Question 36

What percentage of divorce petitions are filed by women?

Answer 36

70%

Question 37

What societal change has reduced the stigma associated with divorce?

Answer 37

Liberalization of attitudes since the 1960s

Question 38

What does secularization refer to in the context of marriage?

Answer 38

Declining influence of religion on society

Question 39

How has women's financial independence affected divorce rates?

Answer 39

Increased independence has led to marital conflict and higher divorce rates

Question 40

What is the 'empty-nest syndrome'?

Answer 40

Occurs when children leave home, possibly ending the obligation to stay married

Question 41

What unconventional living arrangement are divorced couples with children increasingly adopting?

Answer 41

Bird-nesting

Question 42

What percentage of lone parent families in Britain were headed by females in 2016?

Answer 42

86%

Question 43

What is the New Right's view on welfare benefits and divorce?

Answer 43

Generous benefits lead to more divorce and dependency culture

Question 44

What did Beck (1992) and Giddens (1992) argue about marriage expectations?

Answer 44

Traditional norms lose their hold, leading to higher divorce rates

Question 45

What is the trend regarding divorce rates among older couples?

Answer 45

Increasing rates of later-life separation or 'silver splitters'

Question 46

How many marriages in 1991 were re-marriages?

Answer 46

35%

Question 47

What term describes families created from former families?

Answer 47

Reconstituted families

Question 48

What is one reason why women may be less satisfied with their marriages compared to men?

Answer 48

Women expect more from marriage

Question 49

What does the term 'serial monogamy' refer to?

Answer 49

Having a series of relationships resulting in cohabitation and/or marriage

Question 50

What is the current divorce rate trend in Britain?

Answer 50

Divorce rates are decreasing overall

Question 51

What is the impact of economic factors on divorce rates?

Answer 51

Higher divorce rates among poorer families due to financial strain

Question 52

What is the role of cultural differences in family structures among ethnic minorities?

Answer 52

Cultural influences add to the diversity of family types in Britain

Question 53

What is the significance of the term 'Izaat' in some Muslim communities?

Answer 53

It prevents people from getting divorced

Question 54

What does the term 'dual burden' refer to in the context of women's roles?

Answer 54

Women working but still being primarily responsible for housework and childcare

Question 55

True or False: Divorce is now considered a stigma in society.

Answer 55

False

Question 56

Fill in the blank: The Matrimonial and Family Proceedings Act (1984) allowed couples to petition for divorce after _______.

Answer 56

one year

Question 57

What did the research on 'Tini Owens' highlight?

Answer 57

Legal changes in divorce

Question 58

What percentage of all families with children are reconstituted families?

Answer 58

8%

Question 59

How many people are estimated to be in reconstituted families?

Answer 59

Approximately 6 million

Question 60

What do Burgoyne and Clark (1984) suggest about reconstituted families?

Answer 60

They lack the boundaries that other families have

Question 61

Why is the divorce rate higher among those who have been divorced?

Answer 61

Due to the strains of negotiating with ex-spouses

Question 62

True or False: Second marriages are more likely to end in divorce.

Answer 62

True

Question 63

What is a common problem faced by couples in second marriages?

Answer 63

Unrealistic expectations

Question 64

Fill in the blank: The step-parent’s role should be similar to that of a _______.

Answer 64

nanny, aunt, or babysitter

Question 65

How many more young adults are living with their parents now compared to 20 years ago?

Answer 65

1 million more

Question 66

What percentage of under-34s were living in their parents' home in 1997?

Answer 66

25%

Question 67

What was the percentage of under-34s living with their parents by 2019?

Answer 67

32%

Question 68

What are 'Boomerangers'?

Answer 68

Middle-aged Baby Boomers who have moved back in with their elderly parents

Question 69

What economic factors contribute to young adults living at home longer?

Answer 69

Soaring rents and cost-of-living crisis

Question 70

What is the projected number of one-person households by 2039?

Answer 70

10.7 million

Question 71

What percentage of households in the UK were single-person households in 2013?

Answer 71

29%

Question 72

True or False: The rise in single-person households is concentrated among younger age groups.

Answer 72

False

Question 73

What demographic is most likely to live alone according to age?

Answer 73

People aged 45 to 64

Question 74

What is Personal Life Theory?

Answer 74

A theory emphasizing social relationships over genetic ties in defining family

Question 75

What do Tipper, Mason, and Flowerdew (2011) show about children’s definitions of family?

Answer 75

Children include fictive kin in their definitions of family

Question 76

What role do grandmothers play in children's lives according to Hays (1996)?

Answer 76

They take children to educational activities and provide emotional support

Question 77

What is the implication of more people living alone according to Dr. Aideen Young?

Answer 77

Implications for cost of living, housing needs, and care in later life

Question 78

What do Beck and Beck-Gernsheim (1995) argue about rising divorce rates?

Answer 78

They result from individualization, choice, and conflict in relationships

Question 79

What is the 'connectedness thesis' proposed by Smart (2007)?

Answer 79

It emphasizes the importance of ongoing relationships, even after divorce

Question 80

What is a significant trend regarding children and family ties?

Answer 80

Children include pets in their definitions of family

Question 81

What type of relationships do lone-parent black Caribbean families often have?

Answer 81

Visiting relationships

Question 82

Who suggested that black Caribbean families are adaptive to change?

Answer 82

Berthold et al (2000)

Question 83

What is the primary reason for the decline in marriage according to post-modernists?

Answer 83

Consumer society characterized by greater individual choice and freedom ## Footnote This perspective emphasizes that marriage is now viewed as an individual choice rather than a societal expectation.

Question 84

What does Ulrich Beck argue about the increase in 'risk consciousness'?

Answer 84

People are less willing to take the risk of marriage due to high divorce rates ## Footnote Nearly half of all marriages end in divorce, leading to increased caution.

Question 85

What economic factor contributes to higher divorce rates among poorer families?

Answer 85

Increasing living costs and the need for both partners to work ## Footnote Financial strain can lead to marital stress and higher divorce rates.

Question 86

What did Betty Friedan note about middle-class housewives in the 1960s?

Answer 86

Many were unhappy and sought divorce as they were dissatisfied with their marriages ## Footnote This began a shift in the perception of marriage and divorce.

Question 87

What is the average cost of a wedding in the UK?

Answer 87

£12,000 ## Footnote This reflects societal expectations and the financial investment in marriage.

Question 88

What is the average age of marriage for males and females as of 2023?

Answer 88

30 for males and 27 for females ## Footnote This indicates a trend towards later marriages.

Question 89

True or False: Divorce still carries significant stigma in society today.

Answer 89

False ## Footnote Attitudes towards divorce have liberalized since the 1960s.

Question 90

How many married couples per 1,000 were divorced in the UK in 1961?

Answer 90

2 per 1,000 ## Footnote This contrasts sharply with later years, showing a significant increase in divorce rates.