Flashcards on Family Diversity (4.6)

Functionalists and the New Right believe that there is one 'best' family type. What is this family type?

Parsons believes there is a functional fit between the nuclear family and modern society. In the functionalist view, because of the nuclear family's ability to perform these functions, what can we do?

Therefore, what can all other family types be seen as?

The New Right have a conservative and anti-feminist perspective on the family. How do they feel about family diversity?

The New Right see the family as 'natural' and based on fundamental biological differences between men and women. What is meant by this?

The New Right oppose most of the changes in family patterns that have occurred in recent years. Why?

In particular, the New Right are concerned about the growth of lone-parent families, which they see as harmful to children. What do they argue this?

Harry Benson argues that only marriage can provide a stable environment in which to raise children. Why does he believe this?

New Right thinkers and Conservative politicians argue that both the family and wider society are 'broken'. What do they believe is the cause and what do they think is the only solution?

Feminist Ann Oakley heavily criticises the New Right. What does she argue?

New Right thinkers believe that children in lone-parent families are more likely to be delinquents. What do critics argue?

The New Right believe that marriage is synonymous to commitment, while cohabitation isn't. What do critics argue?

The rate of cohabitation is higher among poorer social groups. What does this lead to Carol Smart pointing out?

Robert Chester recognises that there has been some increased family diversity in recent years. However, unlike the New Right, he doesn't see this as a negative thing. According to Chester, what is the only important change?

What does Chester mean by 'the conventional family' and 'the neo-conventional family'?

Apart from most couples now being dual-earner, Chester doesn't see any other evidence of major change. Although many people are not part of a nuclear family at any one time, what does Chester argue?

Statistics on household composition are thus misleading. Why?

To support his view that little has changed, Chester identifies a number of patterns. Give examples:

Examining this evidence, what does Chester conclude?

Both Chester and functionalist sociologists believe that the nuclear family is dominant. What is the important distinction between Chester and functionalists?

Unlike Chester, Rapoport and Rapoport argue that diversity is of major importance in understanding modern family life. What do they argue?

In their view, what does family diversity reflect?

Rapoport and Rapoport see diversity as a positive response to people's different needs and wishes. They identify five types of family diversity. What are they?

Modernist perspectives, such as functionalism and the new right, emphasise the dominance of one family type in modern society. What approach do they take?

In this view, individuals have no real choice about the pattern of family life. Our behaviour is orderly, structured and predictable. How do postmodernists, like David Cheal, respond to this?

In postmodern society, there is no longer one single, dominant, stable family structure. What has happened to said structures?

Some argue that this greater diversity and choice brings with it both advantages and disadvantage. Why?

Which sociologist? argues that greater freedom and choice has benefited women?

Using life history interviews, Stacey found that women, rather than men, have been the main agents of changes in the family. What new family structure does Stacey identify?

What is meant by 'the divorce-extended family'?

The divorce-extended family illustrates the idea that postmodern families are diverse and their shape depends on the active choices people make about how to live. Why is it therefore pointless to make large-scale generalisations about the family?

Giddens and Beck were both influenced by postmodernist ideas about today's society. The explore the effects of increasing individual choice upon families and relationships. What thesis did they subsequently create?

What does the individualisation thesis argue?

Beck states that the 'standard biography of the past' has been replaced by a new biography. What does he refer to this new biography as?

Giddens argues that in recent decades, the family and marriage have been transformed by greater choice and a more equal relationship between the genders. This transformation has occurred for two main reasons. What are they?

As a result, the basis of marriage and the family has changed. Previously, traditional family relationships were held together by external forces. How does this compare to today?

Giddens sees the 'pure relationship' as typical of today's late modern society, in which relationships are no longer bound by traditional norms. What is the key feature of the pure relationship?

Individuals are thus free to choose to enter and leave relationships as they see fit. Relationships became a part of the process of self-discovery. However, what does Giddens note about this additional freedom?

Giddens sees same-sex relationships as leading the way towards new family types and creating more democratic and equal relationships. Why?

What did Jeffery Weeks find when studying homosexual individuals?

Another version of the individualisation thesis is put forward by Beck. What type of society does he believe we now live in?

This new risk society led to a new family type. How do Beck and Beck-Gernsheim refer to this family?

The negotiate family is more equal than the patriarchal family. However, what is its drawback?

In today's risk society, family relationships are subject to greater risk and uncertainty than ever before. How does Beck describe the family?

Name two personal life perspective sociologists:

PLP sociologists agree that there's now more family diversity, but they disagree with Beck and Giddens' explanation of it. They argue that Beck exaggerates how much choice people have about family relationships today. What does Shelley Budgeon note?

In addition, the thesis wrongly sees people as disembedded, 'free-floating', independent individuals. What does it ignore?

Furthermore, the thesis ignores the importance of structural factors, such as social class inequalities and patriarchal gender norms, in limiting and shaping our relationship choices. According to May, why does it ignore such factors?

Reflecting on these criticisms, PLP sociologists propose an alternative to the individualisation thesis. What is it called?

Smart does not see us as disembedded, isolated individuals with limitless choice about personal relationships. What dos she argue?

What did Finch and Mason's study of extended families find to support the connectedness thesis?

Smart comments that "where lives have become interwoven and embedded, it becomes impossible for relationships to end". What does she therefore emphasise?

The connectedness thesis also emphasises the role of class and gender structures in which we're embedded. These limit our choices about the kinds of relationships, identities and families we can create for ourselves. Why this is the case?

While Beck and Giddens argue that there has been a gradual disappearance of the structures of class, gender and family that traditionally controlled our lives, May disagrees. What does she argue?

The personal life perspective doesn't see increased diversity simply as a result of greater freedom of choice, as Beck and Giddens do. Instead, what does it emphasise?