Family diversity and Postmodernism

Question 1

The Rapoports

Answer 1

• diversity is of central importance in understanding, as we have adapted to a pluralistic society (positive response)
• five types;
• cultural- different cultures have different family structures
• life stage- family structures differ across life stage
• organisational- ways the family are organised (conjugal roles)
• generational- different attitudes and experiences reflect historical periods
• social class- family structures differ across incomes

Question 2

Morgan

Answer 2

• family is not fixed, individuals construct their own life course and so it is simply what people choose to do

Question 3

Stacey

Answer 3

• divorced extended families; through having strong bonds with ex-partner’s family and getting support from them
• focus on meanings of individuals not defined as family- fictive kin (auntie as a close friend)

Question 4

Beck

Answer 4

• consisted idea of the individualisation thesis- traditional social structures have lost influence, now our lives are disembedded allowing more choice
• argued the influence of a risk society where tradition has less influence (roles no longer fixed)–> creating the negotiated family (conforming according to wishes and expectations of their members
• in risk society, individuals are vulnerable to uncertainty as ever, creating the zombie category (appears alive but is dead)

Question 5

Giddens

Answer 5

• no longer one type of dominant family as a result of greater choice and equal relationships
• pure relationships- exist solely to meet each others’ needs, relating to confluent love
• sees same sex relationships as leading the way towards new family types

Question 6

Smart (personal life perspective)

Answer 6

• opposing to beck, created the connectedness thesis where social beings choices are made within a web of connectedness (choices based on existing relationships and personal histories)
• emphasises the role of class and gender structures in which are embedded- eg after divorce women should have custody of any children, limiting future relationships

Question 7

Chester (personal life perspective)

Answer 7

• degree of diversity has been exaggerated and nuclear family remains the norm- instead moving further
• describes the neo-conventional family defined as a dual earner family in which both spouses go out to work
• although many people aren’t part of a nuclear family at any one time, Chester argues the importance of the life cycle eg elderly widows may have been nuclear but are now a one person household

Question 8

Functionalist view

Answer 8

• functionalists such as Parsons would argue that the nuclear family is functionally fit for modern society- eg role of the expressive vs instrumental