1. FAMILY DIVERSITY
Theoretical views

2. RECAP (AO1)
1. Using the post-its, write out one family type.
2. One another post-it, give 2 reasons why there has
been an increase in one of the following;
 single-parent families,
 same-sex families,
 co-habitees
 reconstituted families
Stick your post-its on the relevant flipchart paper at
the front of the room.

3. OBJECTIVES
 Explain a range of different sociological views of
family diversity
 Understand the difference between modernist and
postmodernist approaches to family diversity
 Compare and contrast sociological explanations of
family diversity
 Create an essay plan that demonstrates A01 and
A02 skills for a question on family diversity

4. VIEWS COVERED
 Functionalism – Talcott Parsons
 The New Right – Charles Murray
 Neo – Conventional family – Robert Chester
 The Rapoports – 5 types of family diversity
 Feminism - Stacey
 Postmodernism – David Cheal

5. MODERNISM AND FAMILY DIVERSITY
 Perspectives such as functionalism and the New
Right are describes as ‘modernist’
 They see modern society as having a fairly
fixed, clear-cut and predictable structure.
 One best family type – Nuclear family
What other sociological perspectives might be
considered modernist? (AO1)

6. FUNCTIONALIST
 Parsons – there is a Activity
‘functional fit’ between the  Watch the video clip
nuclear family and society. It http://www.youtube.com/wat
meets the needs of society ch?v=L3uZrIYfoL0&feature=
 Other family types are player_embedded
inadequate, abnormal or  Make a list of functions the
deviant, since they are less family provides for
able to perform the individuals and wider
functions required of the society (AO1)
family.
 Why might a single parent
 There is no need for family or same-sex family be
diversity considered inadequate or
abnormal and not able to
provide these functions?
(AO2)

7. THE NEW RIGHT
 A group of thinkers and
commentators who
believe very strongly in
tradition. They tend to
be against change and
support the
Conservative party.

8. THE NEW RIGHT
 Conservative and anti-  Key thinker – Charles
feminist perspective on the Murray
family
 Firmly opposed to family
diversity
What social problems could be
 Only one correct family type caused by the decline in the
– the patriarchal, nuclear nuclear family? (A01)
family with a clear-cut
division of labour between
the husband and wife
(instrumental and
expressive).
 The decline of the nuclear
family and growth of family
diversity are the cause of
many social problems

9. NEW RIGHT CONTINUED…..
 They see lone-parent families  What other family types
as unnatural and harmful. would they disapprove of and
Lone mothers are a burden why? (AO1, AO2)
on the welfare state and
cannot discipline children
properly.  What problems do you think
there with the functionalist
 They disapprove of mothers and New Right approach?
working, caring for families (AO2)
should be a priority
 Marriage is essential for
creating a stable environment
 Cohabitation and divorce
create instability
 Welfare and benefits
discourage men from working
and encourage a
‘dependancy culture’.

10. TASK – YOUR GOVERNMENT (AO2)
 A - You are to come up with approx. 5
laws, benefits, or solutions to deal with the ‘threats’
to the family put forward by the New Right. (imagine
you are a New Right thinker)
 B - You are to come up with approx. 5 liberal (left
wing) laws, benefits, or solutions that would deal
with the ‘true’ issues faced by families today.
 Try and convince your partner that your government
ideas will benefit society more.

11. THE RAPOPORTS: FIVE TYPES OF FAMILY
DIVERSITY
 We have moved away from the traditional nuclear
family to a range of different types
1. Organisational diversity – differences in ways
family roles are organised
2. Cultural diversity – different cultural, religious and
ethnic groups have different structures
3. Social class diversity – family structure and
practices may be different based on income
4. Life-stage diversity – life cycle
5. Generational diversity – different generations have
different attitudes and experiences towards family
life

12. CULTURAL AND CLASS DIVERSITY
 In your own words, summarize
the trends in the table.
You will need to work in pairs.
 One person will research
ethnicity, the other class.
 Skim read the resources on
class/ethnicity. Choose 2 or 3
studies/theorists that explain
class/ethnic diversity and briefly
summarise in a table. (10 mins)
 Explain you findings to your
partner, who will then take notes
in the remaining parts of the
table. (10 mins)

13. ROBERT CHESTER – THE NEO-CONVENTIONAL
FAMILY
 There has been increased Age Family Family Type
family diversity, but not as 0-10 Nikki is born and
significant as others make stays with both
out. The extent and parents
importance of family diversity 11-13 Nikki’s parents
divorce, she
is exaggerated stays with mum
 Neo Conventional Family - A 14-18 Mum re-marries
nuclear family but with a who has a son of
his own
division of labour between 18-21 Nikki shares a
the male and female flat with students
 Dual-earner family 22 -25 Nikki lives alone
 The nuclear family is still the 25 -28 Nikki meets Pete
family most people aspire to. and they live
together
 Due to our life cycle, most 28 -48 They marry and
people will still be part of a have 3 kids
nuclear family at some point 49 -78 Their children
in their lives leave home
78 -88 Pete dies and
Nikki lives in a
retirement home

14. FEMINISTS
 Stacey - Greater family
diversity has benefited
women, enabling them to
free themselves from
patriarchal oppression
and shape the family to
meet their needs.
 In what ways might the
nuclear family oppress
women? (AO1)
 Can you think of a
criticism of this
approach? (AO2)

15. POSTMODERNISM AND FAMILY DIVERSITY
 David Cheal – family
structures are fragmented
and individuals have much
more choice in their
lifestyles, personal
relationships and family
arrangements.
 Family life is more diverse
than ever before and its
shape depends on the
active choices people make
about how to live their lives,
e.g. whether to get divorced,
cohabit, come out as gay
etc.
Are friends the new family?

16. ACTIVITY (AO2)
Read back through each of the theories. Next to each
slide write whether the view;
 Is against family diversity
 Believes greater family diversity doesn’t really exist
 Supports family diversity
 Believes we now have greater family diversity

17. SUMMARY
Against Family Greater family For family Greater family
diversity diversity diversity diversity does
doesn’t exist exists

18. RE-CAP
1. Using the post-its, write up to 3 different
theoretical views on family diversity (try to include
names/perspectives/key concepts)
2. On a separate post-it, write down what you think is
the best explanation of family diversity and why
OR which is the worst explanation and why.
3. Put the post-its on the relevant flipchart paper

19. TASK
Assess sociological explanations of the nature and
extent of family diversity today.
 Start by outlining the nature and extent of diversity – different family
types and some of the reasons why they have increased/decreased
(AO1)
 Discuss a range of different views – functionalist, new right,
postmodernist, feminist, Chester, Rapoports. Compare and contrast
them to each other. (AO1, AO2)
 Conclusion – which is the best explanation for modern British society
and why? (AO2)