Family- family diversity

Why does Parsons see a functional fit between the nuclear family and modern society?

He sees the nuclear family as uniquely suited to meeting the neeeds of modern society for a geographically and socially mobile workforce, and as performing two functions- the primary socialisation of children and the stabilsation of adult personalities. These contribute to the overall stability and effectiveness of society. 

What do functionalists say about the family in modern society?

As thee family has an ability to perform esstential functions, we are able to generalise about the type of family we find in modern society- a nuclear family with a division of labour between the husband and wife.

What family type do functionalists prefer and what do they say about other family types?

The nuclear family. They therefore see other family types as dysfucntional, abnormal or even  deviant, since they are less able to perform the functions required of the family.

What family type do the new right agree with?

They hold he view there is only one correct or normal family type and this is the conventional patriarchal nuclear family, consisting of a married couple and their dependent children, with the husband as the breadwinner and the wife as the homemaker. 

What is the new right view on family diversity?

They oppose the changing in family patterns, such as cohabitation, gay marriage and lone parenthood. They argye the decline of the nuclear family and the growth of fmaily diversity is the cause of many social problems. 

Accrording to the new right what is the main reason for loner parent familes?

The main cause of lone parent families is the collapse of relationships between cohabitatting couples. Benson analysed data on thee parents of 15,000 babies. He found that family breakdown was much more  likely between cohabitating couples-  20% compared with onlt 6% of married couples. The new right believe only a marriage can provide a stable environment to bring up children.

What does Benson argue about marriage?

He argues couples are much more stable when they are married, this is due to the delibrate commitment to one another, whereas cohabitation allows partners to avoid commitmnt and responsiblity. 

What do new right thinkers will solve the problems in society?

• They argue only a return to traditional values including the value of marriage- will prevent social disintegration and damage to children.
• They regard laws and policies such as easy access to divorce, gay marriage. and welfare benefits, as undermining the nuclear family.

How can the new right be critcised?

• Oakley argues the new right wrongly assumes that husbands and wives roles are fixed by biology.
• Feminsits argue the conventional nuclear family is patriarchal.
• There is no evidence that children of lone parent families are more likely to be delinquent.

What is the neo-conventional family defined by Chester?

It is a dual earnwe family in which both spouses go out to work and not just the husband. It is similar to the symmetrical family.

What evidence of change does Chester see?

He does not see any major evidence of change, most people are not choosing to live in alternatives to the nuclear family on a long term basis, and the nuclear family remains the ideal which people aspire to.

What does Chester argue about the nuclear family and the life cycle?

Many people currently living in one-person households, such as elderly widows, diborced men or young people not married yet, were either part of the nuclear family in the past or will be in the future. 

What evidence has Chester gathered to prove patterns have not changed?

• Most people live in a household headed by a couple.
• Most adults marry and have children, most children a reared by their 2 natural parents.
• Most marruage continue until death- divorcees remarry.
• Cohabitation has increased, but for most couples it is temporary stage before marrying.
• Although births outside marriage have increased most are jointly registered, indicating the parents are commited to bringing the children up.

What do Rohna and Robert Rapoport argue about diveristy?

They argue diversity is of central importance in understanding family life today. Family diveristy reflects greater freedom of choice and the widespread acceptance of different cultures. The rapoports see diversity as a positive response to different peoples needs and wishes. 

What are the 5 types of family diversity in Britain today accoding to the Rapoport's?

• Organisational diversity- the differences in the ways family roles are organised. For example some have joint conjugal roles and dual earners, and others have segregated conjugal roles and single earners.
• Cultural diversity- different cultural, relgious and ethnic groups have different family structures, for example there is a higher number of lone parent families amongst African-Caribbean households.
• Social class diversity- Differences in family structure are the result of income differences bettween households and social class, There are class differences in child-rearing practices.
• Life-stage diversity- family structures differ according to the stage reached in the life cycle.
• Generational diversity- Older and younger generations have different attitudes and experiences that refelect hsitoral periods which they have lived.

How is postmodern society different to modern society?

In postmodern society there is no longer one single, dominant, stable family structure such as the nuclear family. Instead family structureshave become fragmented into many different tyoes and now have much more choice in their lifestyles, personal realtionships and family arrangements.

How does stacey argue greater freedom and choice has benefit society?

Stacy (1998) argues greater freedom and choice has benefited women, It has enabled them to free themselves from patriarchal opression and shape their family arrangements to meet their needs. 

What study did Stacey do?

STacey used life history interviews to construct a series of case studies of postmodern families in the silicon valley california. She found women have been the main agents of change in the family. For example, many women she interviewd has rejected the traditional housewife-mother role. They had worked, returned to education as adults, improved their job prospects, divorced and remarried.These women created new family structures which better suited their needs.

What family structures had the women Stacey researched created?

• The divorce-extended family, whose members are connected by divorce rather than marriage. The key members are usually female, and include former in laws, or a mans exwife and his new partner

What is the case study of Pam which shows family diversity?

Pam created a divorce extended family. Pam married young, then divorced and cohabitated for several years befoe remarrying. Her 2nd husband had also been married before. By the time the children of Pam's first marriage were in their 2's she had formed a divorce extended family with shirely the woman coabitating with her first husband. They helped each other financially and domestically. 

What is the individualisation thesis?

It argues that traditional social structures, such as class, gender and the family have lost much influence over us. According to the thesis, in the past peoples lives were defined by fixed roles that prevented them from choosing their own lifecourse. In contrast individuals today have fewer such certainties and roles to follow. Therefore, according to the individualisation thesis we have become freed from tradiaitonal roles and structures, leaving us with more freedom to chose how we lead our lives. 

Why has there been a transformation of greater choice and a more equal relationship between men and women?

• Contraception has allowed sex and intamacy rather than reproduction to become the main reason of the relationships existence.
• Women have gained independence as a result of greater opportunities in education and work.
• The basis or marriage and family has therefore changed 

What is the pure relationship described by giddens?

The pure relationship is a relationship which is no longer bound by traditional norms. The key feature of the pure relationship is that it exists soley to satisfy each partners needs.The relationships is therefore only likely tp servive if both partners think it is in their interest to do so. Couples stay together because of love, hapiness or sexual attraction. Individuals are therefore free to choose t enter and leave relationships as they see fit.

What are the negatives of the pure relationship?

With more choice personal relationships inevitabely become less stable. The pure realtionship is a rolling contract which can be ended more or less at will by either partner, rather than permanent commitment. This produces greater family diversity, by creating more lone parent families, one personal hosueholds and stepfamilies.

What does Beck argue about society?

He argues we now live in a risk society, where traditon has less influence and people have more choice. As a result we are more aware of risks, bevause making choices invokves calculating risks  and the rewards of different options open to us. 

What two trends has the patriarchal nuclear family been undermined by?

• Greater gender equality-  which has challenged male domination in all spheres of life. Women now expect equality both at work and in marriage.
• Greater individualism- where peoples actions are influence more by calculations of their own self-interest than by a sense of obligation to others. 

What is the negoiated family and negatives of it?

Negoiated families do not conform to traditionaal family norms, and avry according to the wishes and expectations by their members, who decide what is best for themselves througb negoitation. They enter the relationship on an equal basis. However, it is less stable, as individuals are free to leave if their needs are not met.

What is the zombie family?

The idea that the family appears to be alive, when in realirt it is dead. People want it be a haven of security, in an insecure world, but todays family cannot due to its own instability.

What criticims do personal life theorists make of the individualsiation thesis?

• The individualisation thesis exaggerates how much choice people have about family realtionships today. Traditional norms which limit peoples choice have not weakened.
• Wrongly sees people as disembessed free floating inependent individuals. Ignores the fact that out decisions and choices about personal relaitionships are made within a social context.
• Ignores the importance of structural factors, such *** social cl*** inequalities and patrriarchal gender norms which limit and shape our relationship choices.

What is the connectednes thesis?

Smart argues we are fundamentally social beings whose choices are made within a web of connectedness. According to the connectedness thesis we live within networks of existing relationships and interwoven personal histories, these strongly influence our rnage of options and choices in realtionships. 

How do class and gender structures limit our choices about the kinds of relationships?

• After divorce, gender norms dictate that women should have custody of the children, which may limit their opportunity to form new relationships. By contrast men are freer to start a second family.
• Men are better paid than women which gives them more freedom and choice in realtionships.
• The relative powerfulnes of women and children as compared with men means that many lack freedom to choose so remain trapped in abusive relationships.

What does may argue about strcutures?

tructures are not disappearing they are simply being reshaped. For example, as women have gained important rights in voting, divorce, education and employment, this does not mean they have it all. The personal life  theory empahissies the importance of structures in shaping the freedoms of many people, who now have to create more diverse family types. They also put emphasis on the improtance of structural factors such as patriarchy annd class inequality, in restricting peoples choices and shaping their lives.