Family Diversity

The number of same-sex married couples has increased from 1996.

The number of civil partner couple families has increased from 1996

The number of opposite-sex married-couple families has decreased from 1996.

The number of lone-parent families has increased since 1996.

Argued that there is no right type of family.

Found 5 types of family diversity

The decline of marriage and the increase in divorce has led to different types of families emerging e.g Lone Parent Family.

People from different religions and ethnicities increase the range of family types in Britain.

Family types differ between social class.

The differences are:

-The relationship between the couple

-The socialisation of children

Families move through different stages and have different priorities at different stages. They concluded that a fundamental change is taking place in British Family Life.

Life cycle diversity exists between families whose members are from different historical periods. 

Legal Changes - The divorce reform act (1969) made it easier for couples to escape and un-happy relationship. 

Greater Roles - An increasing number of women work and no longer need to depend on men.