Sociology- family diversity

Using material from Item A and elsewhere assess sociological explanations of the nature and extent of family form now. Family transmutation means that on that point be many different graphic symbols of family in society today not retributive nuclear, cereal packet families. There are several different types of family in spite of appearance I-JK society. These include nuclear, atomic number 53 parent, gay or lesbian, extended and reconstituted.Although nuclear dust the most common family type in the I-JK today with 20% of families travel into the category, early(a) types are fast on the increase due to societies changing attitudes owards what is considered acceptable. Perspectives such as functionalist and the new right have been described as advanced fontist. That is, they see modern society as having a fairly fixed, clear and predictable structure. They see one best family type- the nuclear family- as slotting into this structure and serving it by performing certain essential functions.Modernists are firmly unconnected to family diversity. They hold the view that there is only one redress or normal family type. They see the traditional patriarchal nuclear family consisting of a marry couple and their ependent children, with a clear labour division between the breadwinner maintain and the home machinater wife as correct. They also see a clear distinction between who should carry out the instrumental and expressive role in the household. For example, according to Talcott Parsons there is a functional fit between the nuclear family and modern society.https//donemyessay.com/sociology-exam-3-chapters-6-8/He sees the nuclear family as uniquely suited to meeting the inescapably of modern society for a geographic in ally and socially mobile workforce, and as performing two irreducible functions- the primary socialisation of children and he stabilisation of adult personalities. He claims these functions contribute to the overall stability and effe ctiveness of society. Hence, other family types nooky be considered as abnormal, or even deviant, since they are slight able to perform the functions required of the family.However, other sociologists reject the modernist idea that there is one best family type or that he familys structure shapes its members behaviour. Feminist and postmodern views would argue that modernist approaches ignore significant facts. They argue, as individual social actors, we pretend our own choices about family life and relationships, and we right a instruction have oft greater choice about our personal relationships, and that has increased family diversity so oft that we can no longitudinal talk about a dominant type.There are many things in modern society that have run away to an increase in family diversity today. One of the main reasons for diversity is the separate act introduced in 1969-71 meaning women can get a decouple if they feel it is necessary. Judith Stacey argues that greater choice as benefitted women and enabled them to free themselves from patriarchal oppressiveness and to shape their family arrangements to suit their needs. The act has speck to an increase in single parent families and singletons.The modernists would see this as having a negative effect on society as single parent families are ill fit out to bring up a well rounded individual who can make a positive contribution to society. However, a postmodernist, Fiona Weir, argues the vast mass of children growing up in single-parent families do so healthily and happily. another(prenominal) piece of egislation that is helped increase family diversity is the civil partnerships act (2004). It nas meant that same stimulate couples can legally get married and in many cases lease a child.Teenage pregnancy is on the increase and this has again increase family diversity and has meant there is an increase in single parent families and the three generational family all living under the same roof. Th is contradicts parsons claims that the extended family is not as important or needed as much as it was in preindustrial magazines and points out that in some cases it is needed as much as ever. The changing position of women in society has also had a large impact on family diversity. Many women now are exhalation out to work, whereas in the past they would have stayed at home and looked subsequently the children and her husband.It has meant that many are now either not having children at all or waiting until they are older so they can management on their careers. The new right and the functionalists would have a big conundrum with this as they see it as a womens main Job is to have a bun in the oven children, take care of her children and the household. The feminists and postmodernists would however see the changing stature of women as something that is very positive as it empowers them and gives them a choice on what they involve to do with their own lives.Another key factor to point out when lecture about family diversity would be the role of the media in the betrayal of modern families. In soap operas for example there may be a lot of teenage pregnancies and families such as reconstituted ones. This would have a major impact on what people think is acceptable in todays society, nd if people think it is acceptable they are more likely to do it. The media may have cause subjects such as divorce, which would have been a taboo subject in the past, to become socially acceptable which inescapably lead to an increase in the amount that take place.One of the main issues when talking about family diversity would be the increase in the neo-conventional family. Chester defines the neo-conventional family as a dual earner family in which both spouses go out and work. This family type would be relevant to todays family because of the recession. The recession has eant that the woman can no longer afford to stay at home and care for her family as it is unaffordab le. It is similar to the symmetrical family described by Young and Willmott.For Chester, the extent and importance of family diversity described by the new right has been exaggerated. Like the functionalists, Chester sees the nuclear family as dominant. The only important difference between his view and that of functionalists is that Chester sees a limiting from a conventional to neo-conventional nuclear family where both play an instrumental or breadwinner role. Ulrich Beck rgues that we now live in a risk society where tradition has slight influence and people have more choice. As a prove we are more aware of risks.Todays risk society contrasts with an earlier time when roles were more fixed and people had much less choice in how they lived their lives. The modernists would see this traditional view on society as correct and the way our lives should be lived out today as it is the only way a functioning society can survive. For example, people were expected to marry. at one t ime married, men were expected to play the role of the breadwinner and disciplinarian nd to make important financial decisions, while women took responsibility for the housework and childcare.However, the traditional, patriarchal family has been undermined by two trends greater gender equality and greater individualism. These trends have lead to a new type of family Ulrich Beck calls it the negotiated family. Negotiated families do not conform to the traditional norms, but vary according to the wishes ot their members. These types ot tamilies are increasingly prevalent today mainly because of the recession and also many women want to work.