SCLY1 - Families and Households - Topic 6 - Family diversity and the life course (AS AQA sociology)

The New Right have a conservative and anti-feminist perspective on the family. They are firmly opposed to ___________ _______.

The New Right see which family type as both unnatural and harmful, especially to children? They argue that this family type cannot discipline their children properly, they are a burden on the welfare state and they leave boys without a role model, resulting in higher rates of delinquency and threatening social stability.

The new right see ____________ as the essential basis for creating a stable environment in which to bring up children. They regard both cohabitation and divorce as creating family instability by making it easier for adults to avoid commitment and responsibility. This then has negative effects on children.

The New Right argue that family breakdown increases risks to children. For example according to __________ children in these families face greater risks of poverty, educational failure, crime and health problems, as well as an increased chance of future family breakdown when they become adults themselves.

The New Right view has been criticised by ___________ for wrongly assuming that husbands and wives roles are fixed by biology. In fact cross-cultural studies show great variation in the roles that men and women perform within the family. She believes that the New Right view of the family is a negative reaction against the feminist movement.

_____________ recognises that there has been some increased family diversity in recent years. however unlike the New Right, he does not regard this as very significant, nor does he see it in a negative light. He argues that the only important change is a move from the dominance of the traditional nuclear family, to what he describes as the Neo-conventional family.

Chester defines the Neo-conventional family as............

Chester argues that ______________ are a misleading snapshot of where everyone is living at a single moment in time because they don't show us the fact that most people will spend a major part of their life in a nuclear family?

___________ argue that diversity is of central importance in understanding family life today. They believe we have moved away from the traditional nuclear family as the dominant family type, to a range of different types. Families in Britain have adapted to a pluralistic society - that is, one in which cultures and lifestyles are more diverse.

The Rapoports identify five different types of family diversity in Britain today; What is meant by Organisational diversity?

The Rapoports identify five different types of family diversity in Britain today; What is meant by Cultural diversity?

The Rapoports identify five different types of family diversity in Britain today; What is meant by Social class diversity?

The Rapoports identify five different types of family diversity in Britain today; What is meant by Life-Stage Diversity?

The Rapoports identify five different types of family diversity in Britain today; What is meant by Generational Diversity?

_____________ uses an approach known as life course analysis. This starts from the idea that flexibility and variation in people's family lives- in the choices and decisions they make, and in the timing and sequence of the events and turning points in their lives. For example these might include the decision to have a baby,come out as gay, or move into sheltered accommodation.

_________________ examine how young people experience leaving home, for example in relation to what it means to be independent and in terms of how others such as parents and friends influence their decisions.

Life course analysis has two major strengths; It focuses on what family members themselves consider important, rather than what sociologists may regard as important. It looks at how families and households change from the viewpoint of the people involved and the meanings they give to their lives, relationships and choices. What is the 2nd strength?

______________ uses the concept of 'family practices' to describe the routine actions through which we create our sense of being a family member, such as feeding the children or doing DIY.

Morgan prefers the concept of _____ _________, rather than family structure, as a way of describing how we construct our life course and relationships. In his view, families are not concrete things or structures - they are simply what people actually do.

_______________ sees the family as a clear-cut, distinct structure separate from other aspects of society. However, Morgan (2007) argues that as today's society becomes more fragmented , networks such as family, friendship and other kinds of relationships become less clear-cut and boundaries between them become blurred.

While the Rapoports identify a range of family diversity, postmodernists such as _____________ go much further. They argue that we no longer live in the modern world, with its predictable, orderly structures such as the nuclear family. Instead, society has entered a new, chaotic postmodern stage. in postmodern society, family structures are fragmented and individuals have much more choice in their life styles, personal relationships and family arrangements. As a result family has become even more diverse than the Rapoports recognise.

___________ argues that in recent decades the family and marriage have been transformed by greater choice and a more equal relationship between men and women. This transformation has occurred because; Contraception has allowed sex and intimacy rather than reproduction to become the main reason for the relationships existence. Also women have gained independence as a result of feminism and because of greater opportunities in education and work.

______________ argues that we now live in a risk society where tradition has less influence and people have more choice. As a result, we are more aware of risks. This is because making choices involves calculating the risks and rewards of the different courses of action available.

The patriarchal family has been undermined by 2 trends; Greater gender equality and ________________

According to post-modernists there is a new family type replacing the patriarchal family. _______________ call this the 'Negotiated family'. Negotiated families do not conform to the traditional family norm, but vary according to the wishes and expectations of their members, who decide what is best for themselves by negotiation. They enter the relationship on an equal basis.

A disadvantage of all post-modern family types is that they are less ________.

______________ argues that greater choice has benefited women. It has enabled them to free themselves from patriarchal oppression and to shape their family arrangements to meet their needs.

________________ argues that it is pointless trying to make large scale generalisations about the family as if it were a single thing as functionalists do. Instead, sociologists ought to give more attention to how people create their own diverse family lives and practices.

__________________ identifies a long-term shift in attitudes since the 1950's. Over this period, sexual morality has become largely a matter of personal choice. At the same time, the church and state have lost much of their power to influence individual morality.

__________ observes that despite these changing attitudes, family patterns continue to be fairly traditional. Most people still live in a family; most children are brought up by couples; most couples marry and many divorcees remarry. Argues that although the New Right continue to oppose diversity they are fighting a losing battle.