Parenting, the
Neo-Conventional
Family and the
Rapoports
Lone Parent Families
- now account for 1/4
of all families (90%
female-headed).
New Right blame
generous welfare
benefits for
encouraging the
increase and creating
a 'dependency
culture'.
These are
usually poor,
because lack of
affordable
childcare
prevents
mothers
working and
because fathers
don't pay
maintenance.
Reconstituted or step-families are
increasing due to divorce and re-marriage.
Account for around 8% of families.
Chester (1985) - increased diversity,
but nuclear family still dominant.
Main change is that both partners
work (like symmetrical family).
People still aspire to
nuclear family as a model.
Rapoport
and
Rapoport
Diversity is CENTRAL
to the family.
5.
Organisational
- joint or
segregated
conjugal roles.
2. Cultural -
ethnic groups
have
different
family
structures.
1. Class
Differences -
e.g. differences
in child-rearing
practices.
4. Life Cycle
Differences -
e.g. pensioner
couples,
parents with
young children.
3. Generational
Differences - e.g.
attitudes to
cohabitation.
Ethnic Differences
More black lone parents (49% of
families) than white (23% of families).
Result of high male unemployment, or
black women valuing independence
more highly.
Large Asian households, due to the cultural importance of
the extended family and need for support when migrating.