Postmodernism and Family Diversity

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What is the New Right (Charles Murray) view of family diversity?
The NR is opposed to family diversity. The nuclear family is the correct family type and is based on biological differences. Other families are to blame for eduaction failure, high crime rate, health problems and 'dependency culture'
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How do Feminsits criticise the New Right view?
Roles are not biologically based but socially constucted. The traditional nuclear family is patriarchal
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What is Chester's Neo-Conventional family?
A dual income family in which both spouses go to work. This has replaced the nuclear family and the amount of family diversity has been exaggerated
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How do the Rapports criticise Chester?
We have moved away from nuclear families and adapted a greater variety of lifestyles and cultures. Family diversity reflects greater freedom of choice and greater acceptance of different cultures
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What are teh Rapports 5 types of diversity?
Organisational diversity, Cultural diversity, social class diversity, life-stage diversity (family structures differ according to the state reached in the life cycle) and generational diversity (older and younger generations have different attitudes
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What does postmodernists and Cheal argue?
Society has entered a chaotic phases and families have become fragmented. Individuals have more freedom and choice and there is no single type of family, only families
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What does Stacey argue?
Family diveristy is good for females as it allows them to choose a family type that best suits their needs.
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What is the Individualisation theory(Giddens and Beck)?
Traditional social structures no longer define our lives and we have become freed from fixed roles in modern society
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According to Giddens, which two factors have led to greater choice and equal relationships?
Contraception has meant relationships are based on intimacy rather than reproduction. The increased finanical independence of women has created greater opportunities in education and work
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What is the 'Negotiated Family' (Beck)?
A more equal but less stable family which varies according to the wishes of the family emmbers
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Why does Beck refer to the family as a 'Zombie Cateogry'?
It appears to be alive but in reality is dead. We turn to the family for security but relationships are more uncertain adn insecure
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How does Carol Smart criticise the Individualisation Thesis?
It exaggerates how much personal freedom individuals have. It ignores the continuing importance of strucutral factors. Individuals are not free floating - choices are made within a socail context
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What is the Connectedness Thesis?
Our decisions and choices are taken within the network of our social relationships so we are not totally free. Releationships are what is socially expected within our social group
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How do gender relationships show individuals are not free to choose?
Gender norms mean the mother has custody of children and patriachal strucutres mean women do not have the same choices as men
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What does Tamaras Hareven argue?
There is flexibility adn variation throughout people's lives. Familes are ever changing
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What is the Life Course Analysis?
An approach focusing on the meanings family members give to life events and choices
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What are the strengths of Life Course Analysis?
family memebers can focus on what they consider to be important so sociologists can see how change is perceived on an individuals level. This approach is suited to today's society where people are more likely to have had choice in relationships
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

How do Feminsits criticise the New Right view?

Back

Roles are not biologically based but socially constucted. The traditional nuclear family is patriarchal

Card 3

Front

What is Chester's Neo-Conventional family?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

How do the Rapports criticise Chester?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

What are teh Rapports 5 types of diversity?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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