Family diversity (P2) Flashcards
(23 cards)
Describe the functionalist ideal of a family type (Parsons)
Parsons - there’s a ‘functional fit’ between the n.fam and modern society- it’s best suited to meet society’s needs, as it allows there to be a geographically and socially mobile workforce, and it performs two essential functions – the primary socialisation of children and the stabilisation of adult personalities, contributing to stability and the effectiveness of society.
Therefore, because it is the ‘best’ type, the n.fam is the main type found in modern society, w/ a division of labour between husband and wife. Any other family type is dysfunctional, abnormal or deviant - less well able to perform the functions required of the fam
Which essential functions does Parsons argue the nuclear family perform
the primary socialisation of children
the stabilisation of adult personalities,
(contributing to stability and the effectiveness of society)
Describe what the new right are concerned with
cohabitation, gay marriage and lone-parenthood, and believe the decline of the nuclear family and growth of family diversity cause of many social problems.
they’re particularly concerned w/ the growth of lone parent families, the result of the breakdown of couple relationships
Describe the similarities between the NR and F view of the family
New Right/Charles Murray have a conservative and anti-feminist perspective on the family and oppose family diversity. Like functionalist, they believe the traditional n.fam is the best for society, as it’s based on a natural division of labour between a male breadwinner and a female homemaker.
The n.fam is ‘natural’, due to fundamental biological differences between men and women.
In what ways do the NR argue lone parent families are harmful to children and society?
they can’t discipline their children properly
they leave boys w/o an adult role model, resulting in educational failure, delinquency and social instability.
they’re likely to be poorer and a burden on the welfare state/ tax payers.
The main cause of LPF = collapse of relationships between cohabiting couples, as relationships are more stable when married
How have NR thinkers and Conservative politicians used NR evidence to support their view that the family and society is broken?
They argue society needs to return to ‘traditional values’ of marriage to prevent social disintegration and stop damage to children. Laws and policies on divorce, gay marriage and welfare benefits are undermining the conventional family.
Give the criticisms of the NR perspective on family diversity
Feminist Oakley argues that gender roles in the n.fam aren’t natural, but socially constructed. Women haven’t always been housewives (e.g. they worked in the early industrial period), showing the role isn’t natural.
(-) The rate of cohabitation is higher for poorer social groups. Therefore, poverty may be the main cause of relationship breakdown, not a lack of marriage
Describe Rapoport & Rapoport’s argument on family diversity
it’s increased and there are less n.fams- this is a good thing as people have more freedom in their relationships. Unlike the NR they argue that see the increase in fam diversity as a positive response to people’s needs.
They list 5 types of family diversity: Cultural, Life stage, Organisational, Generational & Social class diversity
Who argues there are 5 types of family diversity (CLOGS)?
Rapoport & Rapoport
Describe the argued 5 family diversity types (CLOGS)
Rapoport & Rapoport
*Cultural diversity- Different cultural, religious and ethnic groups have different family structures e.g. black people are more likely to live in SPFs.
*Life-stage diversity- Fam structures differ depending on where people are in their fam life-cycle e.g. newlyweds, couples w/ children, retired couples whose children have left home.
*Organisational diversity- Differences in how fams are organised- dual-earner families (where both partners work) or one wage-earner, etc.
*Generational diversity- Older and younger generations have different attitudes to fam structures e.g. the young= more likely to co-habit or divorce leading to single-parenthood.
*Social class diversity- Different fam structures are due to differences in income. Also, child-rearing practices differ e.g. MC fams may be more able to afford nannies.
Describe Chester’s view on family diversity
he doesn’t believe that it’s increased significantly, and says the only major change in fams is the move from the conventional n.am (w/ a male breadwinner and female homemaker) to the neo-conventional n.fam: a dual earner fam (one in which both partners work).
Most people live in n.fams for most of their lives-if someone isn’t in a n.fam, it is due to a stage in their family life-cycle: they will have probably been in a n.fam before and will probably be in one again and the n.fam is still the fam type most people aspire to.
Describe the modernist perspective on family diversity
e.g. functionalism emphasise the dominance of one fam type in society, and argue that the fam is a structure that shapes individuals. Individuals have no real choice on the pattern of fam life, and their behaviour is structured and predictable – most people marry, have children etc
Describe the postmodernist view on family diversity
we no longer live in modern society w/ its fixed and stable structure, but are in PM society where there’s no longer one single, dominant fam structure- there are now more fam types and people have more choice in their relationships and family arrangements.
This comes with advs, such as more freedom in relationships, but disadvs, as more freedom in relationships makes them less stable, and more likely to break up
they don’t look at the fam as a single thing, as Functionalists do. Instead the fam is simply whatever arrangements individuals choose to call the ‘family’ people create own fam lives and practices.
Who argues women are the main agents of changes in the family and what is said? (PM)
Stacey
more freedom/choice has benefitted women - allowed them to free themselves from patriarchal oppression and shape their family relationships, as they want to. Therefore, it is women, not men who are the main agents of changes in the family.
One new ‘type’ is the divorce-extended family, one connected by divorce rather than marriage e.g. staying in touch with in-laws, new partners being in touch with ex-partners regarding childrearing.
Describe the late modernist perspective on family diversity (individualisation thesis)
Giddens and Beck (influenced by Postmodernist thought) argue that trad social structures - class, gender and fam- have lost much of their influence over us.
In the past, peoples’ lives were defined by fixed roles e.g. getting married, women being housewives, whereas in today’s society, people have more choice, and have been freed from trad roles. Their view is known as the individualisation thesis. This freedom has huge implications for fam relationships and fam diversity.
What does Giddens argue the changes in choice and freedom are from
*Contraception – Relationships are now based on sex and intimacy, rather than reproduction.
*Women have greater independence as a result of feminism and greater opportunities in education and work.
Result= marriage/fams have changed, today people are free to define their relationships themselves, rather than following roles and are not governed by laws and tradition.
Who argues the idea of a pure relationship
Giddens
Describe pure relationships (LM)
relationships are held together by individual choice and equality, rather than by law, religion, social norms and traditional institutions- ‘pure’ relationship– the aim of the relationship is to satisfy an individual’s needs, so relationships survive as long as each partner wants them to.
Couples don’t stay together because of children, a sense of duty or tradition but they stay together because of love, happiness or sexual attraction.
Who argues same-sex relationships have led the way to more equal relationships as they aren’t influenced by traditional norms to the same extent as heterosexual relationships.
Giddens
Who argues we live in a risk society?
Beck
Describe the argument that we live in a risk society (LM)
Beck
we live in a ‘risk society’ where tradition has less influence and people have more choice + consider risks and rewards of different options more than in the past e.g. when people were expected to marry for life, w/ the man being the breadwinner and the woman being the homemaker- while their fam type was patriarchal, it was more stable than fams today. It has been undermined by greater gender equality (e.g. women working) and greater individualism (where people are more driven by their own interests than obligations to others).
These trends have led to ‘negotiated families’ which don’t conform to trad norms, but vary based on the needs of members, who ‘negotiate’ what’s best for them, what roles to play, etc. While this fam type is more equal, it’s less stable as people are more likely to leave if their needs aren’t meant, creating greater fam diversity.
Give the criticism of the individual thesis - personal life perspective approach
It exaggerates choice and instead sociologists argue for a personal life perspective approach. They argue that:
*Trad norms have not been as weakened as much as claimed.
*Most people make them within a social context, rather than being independent individuals.
*Structural factors, e.g. social class and gender are still important factors and limit/shape our relationship choices.
Who argues the connectedness thesis and what is said?
Smart
argues that our decisions are always shaped by our connections to others. Also, class, gender, ethnicity, etc. may still shape the decisions we make in relationships. For example:
- After divorce, gender norms dictate that women get custody of children, which could limit opportunities to form new relationships. Men are freer to start new relationships and second families.
- Men are better paid than women, so have greater choice and freedom in relationships.
- The relative powerlessness of women and children, compared to men means many lack the freedom to choose, and so may be trapped in abusive relationships.
- Heteronormativity (norms favouring heterosexuality) may keep gay people ‘in the closet’ and restrict their behaviour.
