Family diversity

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  • Created by: asusre
  • Created on: 26-04-21 18:26
Which sociologist proposes the functionalist perspective on family diversity?
Parsons argues that the nuclear family is uniquely suited to meeting the needs of society and maintaining social stability. Other family types are considered dysfunctional and deviant as they are less able to perform the functions required of the family
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What is the New Right's perspective on family diversity?
The New Right are opposed to family diversity, which they view as the cause of many social problems. They see the nuclear family as ‘natural’ and based on fundamental biological differences between women and men.
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What is the New Right's perspective on families headed by lone-mothers?
The New Right argues that lone-mothers cannot discipline their children properly, leaving boys without an adult male role model, which results in educational failure, delinquency and social instability, and are likelier to be poor and thus a burden on the
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Which New Right sociologist identifies the cause of lone-parent families?
Benson argues that the main cause of lone-parent families is the collapse of relationships between co-habiting couples. Only marriage can provide a stable environment in which to bring up children because it requires a deliberate commitment to each other,
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What family policies do the New Right support?
The New Right argues society must return its to traditional values. Laws and policies such as easy access to divorce, gay marriage and widespread availability of welfare benefits undermine the nuclear family. Benson thus argues that the government must en
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What are the criticisms of the New Right perspective on family diversity?
There is variation in gender roles across cultures, the nuclear family is patriarchal, children in two-parent families are as delinquent as those in lone-parent families of the same class and poverty may cause breakups (rather than cohabitation).
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Which sociologist argues that gender roles are not biologically determined?
Oakley argues that the New Right wrongly assumes that the roles of husbands and wives are biologically determined as cross-cultural studies show great variation in the roles women and men perform within the family.
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Which sociologist found that cohabitation is higher among poorer social groups?
Smart argues that the rate of cohabitation is higher among poorer social groups, so poverty, rather than cohabitation, may cause the breakdown of relationships.
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Which sociologist argues that the nuclear family is not in decline?
Chester recognises that there has been some increased family diversity which reflects a shift from the conventional nuclear family to the neo-conventional family. The extent of family diversity has been exaggerated and the nuclear family is still dominant
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What is the neo-conventional family?
The neo-conventional family is a dual-earner family where both spouses work rather than just the husband.
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How does Chester explain increased family diversity?
Chester argues that most people do not choose alternatives to the nuclear family on a long-term basis, as it remains the ideal to which most people aspire. Many people are not part of a nuclear family at any one time due to the life cycle - they were eith
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Which modernist sociologists argue that the nuclear family is in decline, and this is a positive change?
The Rapoports argue that the nuclear family is no longer the dominant family type, and there are five types of family diversity, which reflects greater freedom of choice and the acceptance of different cultures and lifestyles in contemporary pluralistic s
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What are the Rappoports' five types of family diversity?
Organisational diversity (gender roles)
Cultural diversity
Social class diversity
Life-stage diversity
Generational diversity (attitudes of age groups)
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What is the postmodern view of family diversity?
Postmodernists argue that there is no longer one single dominant stable family structure such as the nuclear family. Instead, family structures have become fragmented into many different types and individuals have much more choice in their lifestyles, per
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Which sociologist argued that family diversity benefits women?
Stacey argues that freedom of choice frees women of patriarchal oppression and enables women to shape their family arrangements to suit their needs e.g., the divorce-extended family.
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What is the divorce-extended family?
The divorce-extended family is where members are connected by divorce rather than marriage e.g. the links between a mother-and-daughters-in-law and a man’s ex-wife and his new partner.
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Which sociologist argues that we cannot make generalisations about 'the family'?
Morgan argues that we cannot make large-scale generalisations about ‘the family’ as if it were a single thing as the family is now postmodern.
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What is a postmodern family?
A postmodern family is simply whatever arrangements those involved choose to call their family.
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Which sociologists propose the indivisualisation thesis?
Giddens and Beck propose the individualisation thesis.
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What is the individualisation thesis?
The individualisation thesis argues that individuals no longer restricted by expectations to follow traditional roles based on social structures such as class and gender, and are now free to choose their own life courses.
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According to the individualisation thesis, which social changes have led to greater choice and diversity in family type?
Greater gender equality, women's independence brought about by feminism, contraception and greater individualism have led to the decline of the partriarchal family and more choice and equality in family types.
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Which sociologist argued that relationships are no longer based on fulfilling traditional roles?
Giddens argues that relationships are no longer based on tradition, duty, social norms, law, religion, giving rise to the pure relationship.
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What is the pure relationship?
The pure relationship is based on meeting each partner’s needs, love, happiness or sexual attraction. Individuals are free to leave if they feel their needs are not being met.
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What are the consequences of greater choice in family types?
New family types are less stable as individuals are free to leave if their needs are not being met. This instability leads to greater family diversity by creating more lone-parent families, one-person families, stepfamilies etc.
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How are gay couples pioneers of the pure relationship?
Giddens sees same-gender couples as pioneers towards more equal relationships and new family types because they are less influenced by tradition than straight couples. This means that gay couples have been able to develop relationships and family structur
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Which sociologist proposes the negotiated family?
Beck argues that the decline of the patriarchal family has given rise to the ‘negotiated family’, where the roles are negotiated based the wishes of its members, which is more equal but more unstable than the patriarchal family.
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Why does Beck describe the family as a 'zombie category'?
Beck describes the family as a ‘zombie category’ because family relationships are subject to greater risk and uncertainty than ever before. It cannot provide its members with a haven of security in an insecure world because of its own instability.
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What are the criticisms of the individualisation thesis?
The individualisation thesis exaggerates how much choice people have, ignores social context, and ignores structural factors due to a priveleged view of 'the individual'.
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Which sociologist argues that the individualisation thesis reflects neoliberal ideology?
Budgeon argues that the individualisation thesis reflects the neoliberal ideology that individuals today have complete freedom of choice. In reality, however, traditional norms that limit people’s relationship choices have not weakened as much as the indi
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Which sociologist argues that the individualisation thesis ignores social context?
Smart argues that the individualisation thesis ignores the fact that choices about personal relationships are made within a social context, seeing people as disembedded, independent individuals.
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Which sociologist argues that Beck and Giddens have a priveleged view of 'the individual'?
May argues that Beck and Giddens ignore the role of gender and class because they view the individual as ‘an idealised version of a white, middle-class man’. They ignore the fact that not everyone has the same ability as this privileged group to exercise
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What is the personal life perspective on family diversity?
Sociologists who take the personal life perspective agree with the individualisation thesis that there is now more family diversity, but propose an alternative called the 'connectedness thesis'.
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What sociologist proposes the connectedness thesis, and what is it?
Smart proposed the connectedness thesis which argues that our choice of family types is influenced by our social context, personal histories and existing relationships, as well as social structures such as class and gender.
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Which sociologists found that family obligations restrict freedom of choice?
Finch and Mason found that individuals' choices are restricted by family connections and obligations. This challenges the notion of the pure relationship as some couple relationships cannot be walked away from at will, such as separated parents who remain
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Which sociologist provides an example of how social structures restrict freedom of choice of relationships?
Einasdottir argues that heteronormativity forces lesbians to stay in the closet which limits their choices in lifestyles and relationships.
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Card 2

Front

What is the New Right's perspective on family diversity?

Back

The New Right are opposed to family diversity, which they view as the cause of many social problems. They see the nuclear family as ‘natural’ and based on fundamental biological differences between women and men.

Card 3

Front

What is the New Right's perspective on families headed by lone-mothers?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

Which New Right sociologist identifies the cause of lone-parent families?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

What family policies do the New Right support?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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