Family Diversity Flashcards
(24 cards)
Which perspectives have seen described as modernist?
Functionalist and New right
What is the functionalist view of the nuclear family?
Parsons-Believe nuclear family is suited to meeting the needs of society for a geographically and mobile workforce
-performs the 2 irreducible functions; Socialisation & stablisation
-other family types are dysfunctional as cant fully perform functions
What is the New right View of the family?
-Oppose family diversity
-only one correct family type (nuclear)
with clear divison of labour e.g expressive instrumental
-This family is the ‘cornerstone of society’ and it is natural/based on biological differences
-Other family types are unnatural lead to societal problems e.g lone parent households= inadequate socialisation +poverty and can lead to delinquency
How are lone parent families harmful to children according to the New Right
-Lone mothers cannot discipline their children properly
-Lone parent families provide boys with no role model= delinquency/educational failure
-Likely to be in poverty so burden on taxpayers
According to Benson, what is the reason for the increase in lone parent families
-Collapse of cohabiting couples
-Benson argues cohabiting couples have a higher rate of family breakdown in first 3 years of childs life
-Rate of divorce lower than rate of breakups
-Marriage more stable due to deliberate commitment whereas cohabitation allows you to avoid commitment and responsibility
What does Benson believe the government should do to reduce lone parent hosueholds
-Return us to traditional values e.g marriage by passing policies that encourage marriage
-Disregard policies that undermine conventional family e.g same sex marriage/welfare benefits/DRA
How can the New Right view of the family be criticised?
-Feminists say NF is based on oppression of women so is not best family type; keeps women financially dependent
-No evidence children of LPF more likely to be delinquents
-cohabiting couples more likely to be w/c, poverty could be cause of breakdown of relationships not lack of
‘deliberate commitment’ (Smart)
What is Chesters view on family diversity
-Extent of FD exaggerated
-Only real change is creation of neo-conventional family where both spouses play an instrumental and expressive role
-NF still ideal
-Statistics on family composition is misleading as only shows a snapshot
What evidence has Chester provided that little has changed in terms of diversity
-Most people live in a household headed by a married couple
-Most children reared by 2 natural parents
-Cohab increased but is a temporary phase before marriage
-Joint registry of children from parents who are not together, shows still commitment
-most of those who are in lone person households were once or will be in NF (widows,divorcees, young singles)
How can Chesters view be criticised
-Doesnt fully acknowledge the variety of family types in contemporary society e.g same sex
What are the Rapoports view on family diversity?
-Disagree with Chester and see family diversity as central to the family today
-Disagree with new right as they see diversity as meeting peoples needs, not a deviation from ‘proper nuclear family’
According to the Rapoports, what are the 5 types of family diversity?
Organisational- way family roles are organised e.g joint/conjugal roles
Cultural-Different ethnic groups mean different family structures
Social class diversity- differences in family structures due to income (differences in childrearing)
Life stage diversity- Family structures differ due to stage of life cycle e.g pensioner OPH
generational diversity- different generations have different attitudes to family life that reflect the time period they lived e.g attitudes to cohabitation
How can the Rapoports view be criticised?
-Chester argues NF still dominant so FD has been overstated
What do postmodernists such as Cheal argue about society
-Move to postmodern society has meant that family structures become fragmented into different types
-Individuals now have more choice
What is Staceys view of family diversity in a postmodern society?
-Women main agents in increasing diversity (by rejecting traditional roles e.g going to work, divorcing/remarrying)
-Women she interviewed created new types of families that benefited their needs e.g divorce-extended family
What is the divorce extended family
Members are connected by divorce rather than KIN
-Pam, from Staceys study formed relationship with woman cohabiting with her ex-husband, providing financial and domestic support
-Shows increased diversity as we make active choices to shape our family ties
What is the individualisation thesis?
Giddens and Beck
-we are disembedded from traditional roles as social structures (Class,Gender,family) have less influence
-In the past these traditions controlled our life course, but now we choose how to live our own lives ‘do-it-yourself’ biography
which impacts FD
According to Giddens, what is the pure relationship
-Individuals stay together to satisfy partners needs (sexual,love), not duty/children/ tradition
-Due to more choice, we can choose when to stay/leave leading to instability as we can leave at anytime
-Creates more LPH
How does Giddens view same sex couples?
Sees them as pioneers for more choice-based and equal relationships
-create more family diversity
-Can also been seen as an example of pure relationships as they are not influenced by traditions so enter relationships that serve personal needs
What does Beck argue about todays society
-we now live in a risk society
Decline in influence or traditions so individuals have more choice. More choice=more risk
What is the negotiated family? Is it stable?
Beck- As a result of the increase in equality and individualism families now are based on negotiated wishes/expectations of the members, this has replaced trad patriarchal family
-However, it is less stable as indivduals can leave at any time if needs not met = more LPF, LPH= more FD
Why does Beck describe the family as a zombie family?
-In risk society, people want security from unstable world so turn to family but
-Family is not the haven of security like it seems, it is also unstable e.g fragility of relationships
How does PLP criticise the individualisation thesis?
May and Smart
-Exaggerates choice in choosing relationships, traditional norms still a factor
-Ignores structural factors in limiting our relationship choices e.g class/ ethnicity
-May argues this is because the view is an ‘idealised version of a white m/c man’ not everyone is that privileged to exercise same choices
What is the connectedness thesis?
PLP (Smart)
-alternative to Individualisation thesis
-We do have more choice but are not completely disembedded.
-Choices made within ‘web of connectedness’
e.g divorced couples in contact for children or remaining in relationship because of responsibilites e.g kids
-relationships thus cannot just ‘end’
