Diversity

Diversity

1. Beanpole family

   • Brannen 2003
     • Believed the Beanpole family type is the most common in Britain today
       • Due to ageing population and decreasing in birth rates
   • Family is described as 'long and thin'
   • Due to the ageing population, there are more older generations in families
     • Means the family is very 'long'
   • Due to birth rates decreasing, there are less children within families and so meaning that there are fewer aunts and uncles
     • Means the family is very 'thin'

2. Isolated privatised nuclear family

   • Reasons for the decline of the classic extended family and the emergence of the privatised nuclear family
     • The need for small family units in order for geographical mobility
       • Easier for the family to move around when smaller
     • Strengthened bonds between partners to protect family stability
     • The need to avoid economic and status conflict between extended kin
     • Society is now more meritocratic
       • Kin support is less useful/necessary because it is what you know not whom you know
     • Greater affluence and reduced family functions
       • Less need for kin
     • Higher rates of social mobility weakens kin links
   • Parsons, Young and Willmott and Fletcher
     • Suggested the structurally isolated privatised nuclear family has emerged as the main family form in contemporary Britain
   • Parsons
     • Isolated nuclear family is well adapted to meet both the needs of industrial society and needs of individuals
       • This is why it is the main family form

3. Modified extended family

   • The family geographically live very far apart but still attain close contact with each other
   • Due to technological advances this close contact is much easier to attain within contemporary Britain
     • Eg, social networking, telephone, smartphones etc
   • Families now no need to live near each other to remain a close relationship

4. The Lone Parent family

   • Percentage of lone parent families has tripled since 1971
   • Various factors explain why there is a rapid growth in the number of lone parent families
     • The greater economic independence of women
     • Improved contraception
     • Changing male attitudes
     • Fewer shotgun weddings
       • This is where reluctant couples are forced into marriage by the father of the pregnant woman, ensuring the man marries the woman
     • Reproductive technology is available to women
     • Changing social attitudes
       • Less social stigma to lone parenthood

5. Symmetrical family

   • Within contemporary Britain some sociologists believe society has become less Patriarchla
     • Feminists would criticise this idea as they believe women are still disadvantaged and oppressed within the family
   • Been a change from how society used to have segregated conjugal roles within the family
     • This shows a clear division and seperation between the male and female roles
   • Society has now more integrated conjugal roles within families
     • This shows few divisions between male and female partners' roles