family diversity

Question 1

what has caused the increase of family diversity

Answer 1

changing family patterns + demgraphic changes e.g migration

Question 2

what is ‘evidence’ showing inreaseof fam diversity

Answer 2

less NF families
moe cohabiting
more same sex etc

Question 3

what do modernist perspectives (functionalist,NR) generally think about family diversity

Answer 3

they see society as predictable and structured so therefore the NF is the most ideal fam type as it helps maintain society’s structure and performs essential functions

Question 4

functionalism on family diversity - parsons

Answer 4

he suggests there is a functional fit between modern society and nf fam : meets demands of socially + geographically workforce
It also
- performs the 2 IF

Question 5

what type of family does Parsong say we can find in modern society

Answer 5

believes we an generalise the type of family we find in modern society which is NF with clear division of labour

Question 6

what does Parson think of other family types

Answer 6

sees them as deviant + unproductive as they are unable to perform the functions required of a family

Question 7

nr on family diversity

Answer 7

• firmly opposed to family diversity

They believe nf is
- natural,
- based fundamental biological differences

Question 8

why do think the decrease of nf is damaging to society

Answer 8

less nf = more society issues, more crime, deviance

e.g because lone mothers cant properly socialise child, lack of father figure role, welfare dependency = preverse incentive

Question 9

critisms of nr on fam diversity - 3 main points

Answer 9

. the nr view that marriage automatically means commitment has been challenged = COAST

Feminists
- Oakley say it is wrong to assume that conjugal roles are biologically determined (supported by cross cultural studies showing variation in men + women roles)

-convectional nf is favoured by nr and source of women’s oppression - prevent them from working = remain dependent , denies them of an equal sayin things

• there is little to no evidence showing that lone parents are apart of a dependency culture + are more likely to raise a delinquent child compared to married counterparts

Question 10

chester on family diversity -what did he recognise in 1980s

Answer 10

he recognised there had been a recent increase in fam diversity in ealry 1980s
nf moved to neo convectional fam

Question 11

what are the features of neo convectional family

Answer 11

it is a dual - earner, not necessarily married so cobabiting , symmetrical family

Question 12

what are chester’s main ideas about fam diversity

Answer 12

He believes the extent and importance of family diversity has been exaggerated.

He see any major changes as :

• most will end up in nf at some point
• nf still remain ideal fam type
• most ppl still want to marry and stay together until death, have children etc.

Question 14

main ideas of post modernity on family diversity

Answer 14

1. cheal
2. stacey - divore, extended fam
3. giddens + beck - individual…
4. giddens - pure relationship etc
5. beck - negotiated,zombie fam
   5.

Question 15

what did david cheal (1993) say about fam diversity

Answer 15

there is no single dominant family type in PM society (as we have more choice + lots of diff family types)

Question 16

what are the advantages of cheal’s ideas of fam in pm society

Answer 16

• free to plot own life course
• consider what family you want to be = aren’t pushed into one

Question 17

what are the disadvantages

Answer 17

• marriage used to be definite = increase of divorce recently (also be suggested increase of cohabitation out of fear)
• greater risk of instability - more rls break up

( be suggested increase of cohabitation out of fear)

Question 18

what did judith stacey do ?

Answer 18

she undertook a range of life history interviews which she used to construct case studies to find out how greater freedom has benefited women in sillcon valley

Question 19

what did she find from these interviews etc.

Answer 19

she found that
- women were freeing themselves from patriarchal oppression e. nf source of oppression

• women were rejected housewife roles, returning to work after childbirth etc.
• main agents of change within fam e.g more likely to file for divorce

As a result , women are creating new family structures to meet their own needs

Question 20

case study : Pam gamma - divorce extended fam

Answer 20

She married young, divorced, cohabited with new partner and connected with Shirley who was her ex husbands partner

They helped each other financially, domestically

Question 21

what is the individualisation thesis - giddens + beck

Answer 21

This is the idea that class, gender, family has lost influence over individuals and we are free + dis-embedded from traditional roles in society

move from standard biography to do it for yourself biography

Question 22

what are criticism of individualisation thesis

Answer 22

exaggerates extent of personal choice + freedom = still constrained by norms

• individuals to make decisions relative to personal + social context
• ignores structural factors

Question 23

what does Giddens say about fam

Answer 23

1. He argues over recent decades family has been transformed by greater choice + equality between men and women

. relationships are free to exist solely on sex, intimacy rather than love, procreation etc. = due to contraception

. advent of feminism = greater opportunities for women = have rls later

2. This means that marriage is no longer defined by law + tradition , individuals left to decide what makes a rls healthy based on personal beliefs

Question 24

what does he say about choice on personal rls

Answer 24

increase choice has lead to personal relationships beome less stable and can be ended by either party at any time

Question 25

what is Giddens view on same sex rls

Answer 25

sees them as leading the way towards new family types + creating more democratic, equal roles
- arent influenced by tradition, so must negotiate who takes which roles

Question 26

what does beck say about society now

Answer 26

• live in a ‘risk society’ = tradition has less influence, ppl have more choice
• ppl can now calculate risks, rewards for decisions compared to in modern society where life was predictable,roles were fixed so they couldn’t calculate risk etc just had to do it

Question 27

what are 2 trends that undermine the patriarchal fam and led to negotiated fam

Answer 27

1. greater gender equality = women expect equlity6 in work, marriage which challenges male dominance in all spheres
2. greater individualism = actions are based on calculations on self- interest rather than a sense of obligation to others

Question 28

what is the negotiated fam

Answer 28

a family that doesn’t conform to any one standard or traditional family norms

It varies based on expectations, wishes of their members = decide what is best for themselves based on negotiation etc.

Question 29

what are the pros + cons of negotiated fam

Answer 29

Pros
- democratic

Cons
- less stable = members can leave if needs aren’t being met

Lead to zombie fam where the family appears alive but is dead = cant offer security (not a haven of security) in this insecure world because it is so unstable

Question 30

what is the connectedness thesis

Answer 30

we aren’t being isolated, dis-embedded but we are social creatures who live in a web of connectedness
(where our decisions and type of families we will live in are affected by a range of ppl we are connected to )

Question 31

how is the connectedness thesis a criticism of pure relationship

Answer 31

-lives have become interwoven , impossible to completely disconnect e.g couple with child who broke up will still somehow communicate, be connected

• challenges pure relationship as ppl cant always leave when no longer useful/works for them

Question 32

what will those that adhere to the connectedness thesis say will play a in / affect this and examples

Answer 32

class + gender
Examples
.Post divorce norm = women takes custody - limits future rls

. Men are generally better paid which provide better opportunities therefore women more likely to be w/c