Family And Relationships

Question 1

Family key words

Answer 1

Household- A person living alone or a group of people living together at the same address
Family- All the people who are related to each other either through blood marriage or adoption
Kinship- Blood related relatives

Question 2

Family types- nuclear

Answer 2

TRADITIONAL
-Two generations a father and a mother and one or more children living at the same address
-Preferred by media, politicians, and functionalists
-Leach nicknames it the cereal packet family adopted by advertisers who portray such families consuming the product

Question 3

Family types- Extended

Answer 3

TRADITIONAL
-these are families that include kin beyond the nuclear family who live at the same address
-two types of
1.vertically- three or more generations living together
2.Horizontally- relatives from the same generation live together
-extended family has transformed (wilmott) it has dispersed nuclear families are the main network but rely on a network of family members for support

Question 4

Family types- Beanpole

Answer 4

TRADITIONAL
-this is a vertically extended family up to four generations but with few children making them appear long and thin in structure
-low birth rates mean only one or two children
-means intragenerational ties are weak but individuals tend to have more inter generational relationships such as wire grandparents

Question 5

Family types- Empty Nest

Answer 5

TRADITIONAL
-A family where children have grown up and left home but parents still home

Question 6

Family types- Reconstituted

Answer 6

NEWER FAMILY FORMS
-Also known as step families or blended families
-fastest growing family type in the uk
-Grant suggests that men are increasingly likely to be living with another man’s children while their children live somewhere else however a lot of children experience co parenting
-rather than being seen as inferior families they should be considered a positive experience can result in rich experiences gain relationships

Question 7

Family types- lone parent

Answer 7

NEWER FAMILY FORMS
-one parent looks after the child without the assistance of another parent
-more likely to be headed by a woman, more likely to live in poverty therefore children have worse health lower educational achievement and becoming involved in anti social behaviour (Spencer), lone mothers are more likely to be unemployed

Question 8

Family types- same sex

Answer 8

NEW FAMILY FORMS
-consist of a couple of the same sex living together
-grown in the last years due to being legally able to adopt children in 2002
-stigma of being a same sex couple could mean less social support from fa,ily and friends however Guasp found that young children see no difference between there families and other families

Question 9

Family types- cohabiting

Answer 9

NEW FAMILY FORMS
-couple live together in a close relationship as partners but are unmarried
-long term combination is growing in popularity and the number of opposite sex cohabiting couple families has increased

Question 10

Family types- living alone

Answer 10

NON FAMILY HOUSEHOLDS
-klinberg suggests three reasons why people live alone:
1.cult of the individual- modern industrial societies has led to individuals to focusing on their own needs rather than roles in larger social groups
2.communications revolution- individuals can achieve pleasures of a social life at home
3.ageing population- as people are living longer likely to be divorced or widowed in old age

Question 11

Family types- living apart together

Answer 11

NON FAMILY HOUSEHOLDS
-individuals enjoy the intimacy of being part of a couple with autonomy of living alone

Question 12

Reasons for changes in marriage trends: social attitudes

Answer 12

-normal to be single and the stigma around unmarried women has gone
-not the case before 1960’s cohabitation sex before marriage was met with social and moral disapproval
-shotgun marriages and being sent to relatives was common

Question 13

Reasons for changes in marriage trends: secularisation

Answer 13

-influence of religion has declined
-new right theorists believe in marriage vows being seen as old fashioned and redundant
-Christian religion no sex or children outside of marriage but these attitudes have changed not as strict
-civil ceremonies being more common than religious ones

Question 14

Reasons for changes in marriage trends: legal changes

Answer 14

-Divorce has become easier to obtain and the stigma has gone
-before one couple had to prove their other partner was at fault but this changed with divorce act of 1969
-equal pay act 1970 prohibits less favourable treatment between men and women in terms of pay improved women’s economic position

Question 15

Reasons for changes in marriage trends: Education and career

Answer 15

-Women’s attitudes have changed putting their education and career first
-wilkinsons genderquake allowed women greater economic independence enabled them to remain single

Question 16

Reasons for change in marriage trends: economic

Answer 16

-High costs of wedding can out off couples
-average wedding costs £20000-£25000

Question 17

Reasons for changes in marriage trends: individualisation and fulfilment

Answer 17

-individuals no longer following social norms seek a relationship to fulfil their needs first people may think marriage is too risky and so opt to cohabit stay single Beck and Beck-Gerbsheim
-Giddens says there’s been a transformation of intimacy growth in confluent love due to being married for practical reasons becoming less needed

Question 18

Reasons for changes in marriage trends: education and career

Answer 18

-Women’s attitudes have changed
-prioritising education and career due to improved access to opportunities
-genderquake Wilkinson
-women greater economic independence so remain single or cohabit

Question 19

Reasons for changes in divorce rates: legal changes

Answer 19

1857- matrimonial cause act
Set up civil divorce courts adultery, cruelty, and desertion had to be proven guilty women couldn’t get divorce on adultery alone
1969- could divorce because relationship had broken down separated two years if both parties agreed 5 years if not

Question 20

Reasons for changes in divorce rates: privatised nuclear family

Answer 20

-Parsons argues that nuclear fam got privatised from extended kin in 1950s meaning couples were less likely to be under pressure to stay together
-extended kin act as a social control agency prevent marital breakdown

Question 21

Reasons for changes in divorce rates: changes in social attitudes

Answer 21

-secularisation led to free people from stigma of divorce
-now viewed as necessary evil rather than a source of shame

Question 22

Reason for changes in divorce rates: changes in expectations of marriage

Answer 22

-Economic security, tradition and wanting children were the main incentives but this has changed to companionship, love and support (fletcher)
-high divorce rates show people value marriage and themselves more

Question 23

Reason for changes in divorce rates: changing position of women

Answer 23

-Because women prioritise their education more women hold stable well paying jobs (Wilkinson)
-benefits allow women to be independent so if unhappy divorce will be easier

Question 24

Reasons for changes in divorce rates: individualisation and reflexivity

Answer 24

-Beck and beck-gernsheim argue divorce has increased due to individualisation people have become more self orientated
-marriage often leads to chaos as selfishness expected in marriage clashes with self interest of individualisation
-traditional ideas of marriage no longer constrain people

Question 25

Reasons for an increase in cohabitation: social attitudes

Answer 25

-Have changed
-cohabitation is now considered normal but before it was met with social and moral disapproval

Question 26

Reasons for an increase in cohabitation: decline of family values

Answer 26

-growth in cohab means the weakening of traditional fam values
-Morgan says cohab is ‘marriage-lite’ claiming evidence suggests that cohabiting couples are less happy and less fulfilled than married couples more like to be abusive, unfaithful stressed and depressed

Question 27

Reasons for an increase in cohabitation: education and career

Answer 27

-Women’s attitudes have changed
-prioritise education allowing women greater economic security and enabled them to cohabit without having to marry for financial support

Question 28

Reasons got changes in cohab: economic

Answer 28

-potentially high cost of a wedding can lead to couples being put off marrying altogether
-average wedding cost is £20,000-£25,000

Question 29

Reasons for changes in cohabitation: individualisation and personal fulfilment

Answer 29

-Modern society is characterised by individualisation no longer bound by traditional social norms and loyalty to families and instead seek relationships to seek their needs first people have become more selfish and are driven by a desire to avoid personal risk and therefore choose to cohabit
-Giddens transformation of intimacy growth of confluent love

Question 30

Reasons for changes in cohabitation: prelude to marriage

Answer 30

-Jamieson found evidence that cohab was seen as a test to whether intimacy could be sustained and returned over a period of time
-test of compatibility

Question 31

Changes in fertility rates and family size: contraception and abortion

Answer 31

-became more socially acceptable introduction of birth control meant people could choose and plan when to have children
-1968 abortion act was introduced

Question 32

Changes in fertility rates and family size: decline in infant mortality rate

Answer 32

-Better diet and nutrition, hygiene, housing, and public health measures meant babies survive into adulthood
-people don’t need to have multiple kids to ensure some survive

Question 33

Changes in fertility rates and family size: education and career

Answer 33

-people obliged to stay in education until 18
-women’s attitudes have changed Wilkinson and genderquake want a career rather than have a large family and be a housewife
-led to women having kids later meaning less kids too

Question 34

Changes in fertility rates and family sizes: economical

Answer 34

-combination of insecure job market, inflation, rising house prices and rent less inclined to embark on family life
-in nineteenth century children were regarded as an economic asset by many working class families as they can go out and work and bring money in but now turned into a financial burden children have been excluded from paid work and the period to which children are financially dependant has increased become a financial burden kippers (heath)

Question 35

Changes in fertility rates and family sizes: economical

Answer 35

-combination of insecure job market, inflation, rising house prices and rent less inclined to embark on family life
-in nineteenth century children were regarded as an economic asset by many working class families as they can go out and work and bring money in but now turned into a financial burden children have been excluded from paid work and the period to which children are financially dependant has increased become a financial burden kippers (heath)

Question 36

Changes in fertility rates and family size: change in social attitudes

Answer 36

-parenthood is a lifelong, stressful commitment don’t want children known as voluntary childlessness, previously frowned upon but now accepted as a norm

Question 37

Changes in fertility rates and family size: individualisation and risk aversion

Answer 37

-beck and beck getbsheim claim people are more individualistic no longer tied to tradition
-may decide to invest time and money in aspects of lifestyle such as housing and travel
-see children as a risk to emotional well-being and relationship

Question 38

Changes in fertility rates and family size: geo mobile labour force

Answer 38

-modern labour force needs to be mobile
-incentive for smaller families makes it easier to just pack up and move somewhere else

Question 39

Ageing population reasons

Answer 39

Lower birth rates- fewer being born in the younger generations than in previous generations reducing size of youthful population
Increased life expectancy- better nutrition, standards of living and improvements in housing, benefits and healthcare means people more likely to survive life threatening diseases like cancer

Question 40

Aging population: negative implications

Answer 40

Increased public spending:
elderly people main recipients of healthcare, social services and adult social care with working population contributing through tax Murray argues economic burden on state result of overt generous state pensions

Demands on family members:
Elderly may increase the domestic burden on women who take most of the responsibilities of caring in families sandwich generation

Loneliness and isolation:
Increase in elderly women living in single person households