SOCIOLOGICAL RESEARCH AND VIEWS ON FAMILY DIVERSITY
ROBERT AND RHONA RAPOPORT (1982)
FAMILY DIVERSITY AND TRENDS
SOCIAL CLASS AND FAMILY DIVERSITY
SOCIOLOGICAL RESEARCH AND VIEWS ON FAMILY DIVERSITY
ROBERT CHESTER
FAMILY DIVERSITY AND TRENDS - QUESTIONS
What do sociologists mean by the term family diversity?
Recognition that there are a range of different family types in contemporary society which vary in demographic and structural dimensions.
What is meant by the term family life cycle?
The types of families and households an individual is likely to experience in their lifetime
Name two social class differences that could exist between families?
Differences in discipline and differences in babysitters
BEANPOLE FAMILIES
ETHNIC DIFFERENCES
ASIAN FAMILIES
AFRICAN-CARIBBEAN FAMILIES
SINGLE PARENT FAMILIES
REASONS FOR GROWTH
WHY ARE SINGLE-PARENT FAMILIES NORMALLY HEADED BY WOMEN?
CRITICAL VIEWS ON SINGLE-PARENT FAMILIES
CRITICAL VIEWS
ROBERT AND RHONA RAPOPORT (1982)
- were among the first to identify changes taking place in UK families.
- argued that nuclear family was no longer family type
- and that range of alternative families and households were increasing in size especially reconstituted and single-parent
- they were optimistic about these changes
- argue there is no 'right family' - all should be accepted
- more recent research - decline of conventional family European trend not just in the UK
FAMILY DIVERSITY AND TRENDS
SOCIAL CLASS AND FAMILY DIVERSITY
- Middle class parents may use nannies whereas WC are more likely to use family or friends
- WC parents more likely to use physical punishments like smacking whereas middle class are more likely to use verbal punishments
- Children from MC are more likely to attend fee-paying school and boarding schools
SOCIOLOGICAL RESEARCH AND VIEWS ON FAMILY DIVERSITY
ROBERT CHESTER
- Looked at diversity and family life cycle
- argues that nuclear family remains most typical
- single-parent families have come from nuclear families and will remarry and become nuclear families again
- singletons will eventually marry or have been married
- even cohabiting couples will marry the person they are with
- extent of family diversity has been exaggerated
- only significant change has been women working - hence neo-conventional
FAMILY DIVERSITY AND TRENDS - QUESTIONS
What do sociologists mean by the term family diversity?
Recognition that there are a range of different family types in contemporary society which vary in demographic and structural dimensions.
What is meant by the term family life cycle?
The types of families and households an individual is likely to experience in their lifetime
Name two social class differences that could exist between families?
Differences in discipline and differences in babysitters
BEANPOLE FAMILIES
- nuclear family with one or two children who maintain regular contact with grandparents
- Grandparents are increasingly being used to look after grand children
ETHNIC DIFFERENCES
ASIAN FAMILIES
- 1/4 of Asian households are extended
- Marriage tends to be arranged and divorce is uncommon
- 3/4 of Asian families include children compared to 1/3 of white families
AFRICAN-CARIBBEAN FAMILIES
- more likely to be single parent - 50%
- legacy of slave trade - families often split
- Black unemployment - linked to male underachievement at school
- Traditionally woman is in charge of household
SINGLE PARENT FAMILIES
REASONS FOR GROWTH
- Divorce - was made cheaper and easier in UK in early 1970s
- Social acceptance - less stigma to being single parent - linked to secularisation and media also portrays it in better light
- Welfare state - New Right argue it's too easy to be single parent with state supporting the mother with range of benefits
- Women not marrying - 40% of all lone parents
- Changing attitudes to marriage
WHY ARE SINGLE-PARENT FAMILIES NORMALLY HEADED BY WOMEN?
- Women more likely to be given custody
- Men have better-paid jobs and so are more reluctant to give it up to become single parent
- Men reluctant to give up work for fear of threatening their masculinity
- More socially accepted for women to look after children
- Women typically better nurturers
CRITICAL VIEWS ON SINGLE-PARENT FAMILIES
- FUNCTIONALISTS AND NEW RIGHT - argue that cannot provide adequate socialisation and two parents are needed - female and male role
- Single parents more likely to be dependent on welfare state and not work - argue this is not fair on people who work and pay taxes
- McLanahan and Booth indicate children in single-parent families do less well at school compared to children from nuclear families
CRITICAL VIEWS
- levels of benefits undermine the traditional family by discouraging men from working to support their families, and they encourage a ‘dependency culture’ of living off welfare benefits.