Family Diversity

Family Diversity

1. Modernism and the Nuclear Family

   • Functionalism
     • The traditional nuclear family is the best fit for modern society- opposed to family diversity
     • The "Cereal Packet Family"- the family has moved away from being extended, and is now isolated & nuclear
     • Many institutions now fulfil those roles e.g. NHS, benefits
     • Evaluation- McGlone: the extended family is helpful and supportive (mainly in working class due to unemployment and poverty)
   • The New Right
     • Opposed to family diversity, they believe the traditional nuclear family is the only type of family children should be brought up
     • Charles Murray- single parent household are the most important social issue of our time
     • They base it on biological differences and there should be a clear cut division of labour
     • Evaluation- Ann Oakley: the traditional family is based on the oppression of women, Weeks: sexual and family diversity are now widely accepted
   • Cohabitation vs Marriage
     • Benson- couples are more stable when they marry as it requires deliberate commitment, cohabiting avoid commitment and responsibilties
   • Neo-Conventional Family
     • Chester- sees the nuclear family as dominant (like functionalist) but both spouses play an "instrumental" role- dual earning

2. Types of Family Diversity

   • Rapoport & Rapoport
     • Nuclear family is a minority of families
     • Organisational diversity- differences in the way family roles are organised e.g. joint or segregated conjugal roles
     • Cultural diversity- different cultures, religious and ethnic groups have different family structures e.g. higher proportion of female-headed families among Afro-Caribbean households
     • Social class diversity- differences are partly the result of income differences between households of different classes
     • Life-stage diversity- differ according to the stages reached in the life cycle e.g. newlyweds, children, retired couple
     • Generational diversity- old vs young generations have different attitudes and experiences that reflect the historical periods of time they’ve lived in (different views on morality and divorce)

3. Postmodernism

   • Diversity and fragmentation- people can “pick and mix” their identities and lifestyles for a wide range of choices
   • Rapid social change- new technologies have transformed our patterns of work and leisure- makes life less predictable
   • David Morgan
     • No point in making large-scale generalisation (functionalist)
     • He prefers family practises rather than structure- members participate by constructing a life course & relationships with family due to their own decisions
   • David Cheal- society has entered a new, chaotic, postmodern stage- family structure is fragmented and diverse (greater choice)

4. Individualisational Thesis

   • Giddens
     • “Pure relationship”- they exist solely to meet the needs of each partner and continue so long as it succeeds in doing so
     • Same-sex relationships are leading the way towards new family types & creating more equal relationships
   • Beck
     • Risk society- tradition has less influence and people have more choice
     • Previous generations had more fixed roles and didn't take any risks
     • The negotiated family- there's now greater gender equality and individualism, so we now calculate the risks and rewards of different actions and decisions
     • The zombie family- it appears to be alive, but is dead
   • Criticisms
     • Exaggerates how much choice people have, however norms limit freedom- religion, finances
     • The Connectedness Thesis

5. Personal Life Perspective

   • Smart- The Connectedness Thesis: choices are made "within a web of connectedness"
   • Finch and Mason- although individuals can (to some extent) negotiate the relationships they want, they’re embedded within family connections & obligations that restrict freedom of choice
   • Giddens "pure relationship"- families include more than the couples he focused on- relationships aren't always pure e.g. parents who separated stay in touch for the children