Sociology - Changing Patterns & Family Diversity - Flashcards in A Level and IB Sociology

What do patterns show about divorce rate?

It has massively increased over the last 50 years.

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Describe 5 reasons for the increase in divorce.

Legal changes (easier & cheaper); Less stigma (more acceptable); Secularisation (decline in influence of religion); Higher expectations of marriage (ideology of romance>economic reasons); Women's financial independence (paid work = afford divorce).

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Explain the feminist explanation for the increase in divorce.

Women becoming wage-earners = more likely to be treated equally at work, whilst expected to perform triple shift at home - awareness of patriarchal oppression results in divorce.

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Explain how modernity and individualisation may cause the increase in divorce.

Traditional norms lose their hold; Individuals become free to pursue their own self-interest, so people unwilling to stay in marriage if it fails to deliver personal fulfilment.

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What do patterns in marriage show?

There are fewer first marriages.

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Describe 5 reasons for the decrease in marriage.

Changing attitudes (less pressure); Alternatives (e.g. cohabitation less stigmatised); Women's economic independence (freedom); Impact of feminism (marriage seen as patriarchal institution); Rising divorce rates (discourages).

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Describe 3 other trends in marriage.

More re-marriages (more divorce - serial monogamy); Later marriages (longer in education - cohabit first); Fewer church weddings (secularisation, won't marry divorcees).

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What is cohabitation? Describe 2 reasons for why people might cohabitate.

Living together without the need for the financial security of marriage; trial marriage & alternative to marriage - more equal.

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What has research shown about gay marriage & same-sex relationships?

Greater acceptance; Moves towards legal equality & policies to treat all couples equally (e.g. adoption rights); Acceptance has led to more stable relationships.

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What do patterns show about lone-parent families? What do New Right sociologists believe is the cause of lone-parent families?

Account for 1/4 of all families (on the rise); New Right = due to generous welfare benefits, encouraging a 'dependency culture'.

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What do patterns show about reconstituted/stepfamilies? What do sociologists believe about reconstituted/stepfamilies?

Increasing (8% of all families); children from woman's previous relationship - high risk of poverty due to having to support more children.

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Explain 2 ethnic differences in family patterns (Blacks & Asians).

More black lone-parents (legacy of slavery - high male unemployment, black women valuing independence); Larger Asian households (cultural importance of extended family & need for support when migrating).

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What do functionalists argue about the 2 types of extended family?

Dispersed extended family (relatives maintain frequent contact); 'Beanpole' family (extended vertically through 3 generations - doesn't involve aunts, cousins etc).

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What do sociologists suggest about obligations to relatives?

Feel obliged to help sick relatives; Reciprocity (help received should be returned); More expected of daughters than sons; Extended family still performs important functions (financial & domestic).

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What do functionalists believe about family diversity?

Conventional nuclear family with DoL based on biological differences is best suited to the needs of modern industrial society & of family members.

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What do the New Right believe about family diversity?

Conservative view & opposes diversity - conventional nuclear family is the only normal/natural family type; Others are unnatural & produce social problems, e.g. lone-parent families (on generous benefits) cause delinquency & a dependency culture.

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Explain Chester's view on the neo-conventional family.

Some increase in family diversity, but nuclear family remains dominant - only change = conventional to neo-conventional (both spouses work); Nuclear = norm/aspired; Cohabitation = temporary phase (most re-marry).

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Describe the Rapport's 5 types of diversity.

Organisational (conjugal roles); Cultural (ethnic family structures); Class (child-rearing practices); Life cycle (pensioner couples, parents with young children); Generational (attitudes to cohabitation).

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Explain postmodernists' individualisation thesis (past & today).

Past = traditional gender & family structures - fixed roles, expected to marry; Today = patriarchal family undermined by individualism - 'disembedded' - choice to lead our own lives.

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Explain Gidden's view of the pure relationship.

Changes have brought about pure relationship - solely to satisfy each partner's needs (no longer defined by tradition/law).

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Explain Beck's view of the negotiated family.

Not fixed - varies according to wishes; More equal, less stable - more emphasis on needs, so free to leave if needs are not met.

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Explain the connectedness thesis.

PLP (Smart): traditional norms still limit choices about relationships, identities & families, e.g. some women in abusive relationships; Disembedded - own decisions in social context (challenges pure relationship - e.g. linked by children).

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Sociology - Changing Patterns & Family Diversity

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