Topic 6 - family diversity and the life course

Description

Flashcards on Topic 6 - family diversity and the life course, created by hayleymitchell06 on 10/05/2015.
hayleymitchell06
Flashcards by hayleymitchell06, updated more than 1 year ago
hayleymitchell06
Created by hayleymitchell06 almost 9 years ago
6
1

Resource summary

Question Answer
The New Right hold the view that the traditional nuclear family is the correct family type - based on biological differences. They argue family diversity is the cause of social problems such as high crime rates and educational failures. - They see lone-parent families as both unnatural and harmful, especially to children. - They disapprove of mothers going to work as they believe they should stay at home. - They see marriage as the essential basis for creating stable environment in which to bring up children.
-Amato (2000) children in lone-parent families face greater risks f poverty, educational failure, crime and health problems, as well as having an increased risk future family breakdown. -The New Right favour cutting welfare benefits to reduce the dependency culture and encourage the conventional family Criticisms: - Oakley (1997) argues the New Right assumes the roles in he family are based on gender. - the nuclear family is based on patriarchal oppression of women and is the cause for gender inequality. - there is little/no evidence that lone-parent families are part of the dependency culture.
Chester: Neo-conventional family - Chester (1985) argues the only important change is the move from the conventional family to the 'neo-conventional family' - the neo-conventional family is when both parents are dual-earners in which both spouses go to work. -He argue that the nuclear family remains the ideal to which most people aspire to. - Also, everyone has/will been/be part of a nuclear family at one part of their life. Evidence: -Most people live in a household headed by a married couple - Most adults still marry and have children - cohabitation has increased but it is a temporary phase until marriage
The Rapoports: 5 types of family diversity -Rapoport (1982) argue that diversity is of central importance in understanding family life. - Families in Britain have adapted to a pluralistic society - that is, one in which cultures and lifestyle are more diverse. - diversity represents the freedom of choice and as a response to people's different needs. - organisational: differences in the way the family is organised - cultural: different cultural, religious and ethnic groups have different family structures - social class: different in structures due to income - life-stage: different structures according to life stages -generational: different attitudes depending on which period they live in.
Life Course analysis: - the idea that there is flexibility and variation in people's family lives - in the choices they make, and in timing & sequence of events and turning points in their lives. - Holdsworth & Morgan (2005) examine how young people experience leaving home, e.g. what age to leave home -Life course analysis focuses on the meanings people give to these life events & choices. Major Strengths: - it is suitable for studying families in today's society - it focuses on what the family members themselves consider important, not what sociologists regard as important.
Family Practices: -Morgan (1996) uses the concept of 'family practices' to describe the routine actions through which we create our sense of 'being a family member'. - Our family practices are influenced by the beliefs we have about our rights and obligations within the family. - in his view, families are not concrete structures- they are simple what people actually do. Morgan (2007) argues that as today's society becomes more fragmented, families become less clear cut. Although life course and family practice are the actions of the individuals, they take place in the context of wider social structures and norms.
Postmodernism and family diversity - Cheal (1993) argues that in the post modern society, family structures are fragmented and individuals have more choice. In post modern society there is no one type of family but families. - Disadvantage: greater freedom produces instability - Advantage: greater freedom means people can plot their own life course. Giddens: choice and inequality - Giddens (1992) argues the transformation is due to contraception has allowed intimacy instead of reproduction and women gaining rights. -Marriage can be define by the couple - relationships exists solely to meet the needs of each partner.
Beck: risk society and the negotiated family - Beck (1992) risk society - tradition has less influence and people have more choice. - Beck (1995) negotiated family do not conform to the traditional family norms, but vary according to the wishes of their members, who negotiate what is best form them. Weeks: the growing acceptance of diversity - Weeks (2000) identifies a long-term shift in attitudes since the 1950s. There is growing acceptance of sexual and family diversity. Although there is a change, family patterns still continue to traditional.
Show full summary Hide full summary

Similar

The Rate of Photosynthesis
Evangeline Taylor
Prueba de Aptitud Académica - Lenguaje
Teresa Nadal
CPA Exam Topics and breakdown
joemontin
Direito ambiental
Luiz Ricardo Oliveira
River Landscapes
Chima Power
A Level Chemistry Unit 1 - Organic Chemistry
charlottehyde
Key Biology Definitions/Terms
jane zulu
Psychology Key Words Research Methods
Alfie Moorhead
a christmas carol
maha.als10
SalesForce ADM 201 Study Quiz
Kristin Bunn