Review – Sociology of Childhood - PowerPoint Presentation

1. Review – Sociology of Childhood

2. Revision Paper 1 Education and MIC.Paper 2 Family and Research Methods.Pairs – What are you doing for revision? What works?

3. 2016 Budget.All schools to become Academies.Using your knowledge of Sociology of Education.Where does this idea come from?Is it a good idea or bad idea?Who might win and lose?

4. Topic 2: Changing PatternsChanging patterns of marriage, cohabitation, separation, divorce, childbearing and the life course, including the sociology of personal life, and the diversity of contemporary family and household structuresAn understanding of the trends in contemporary family and household structures, eg symmetrical family, beanpole families, matrifocal families, serial monogamy, lone-parent families, house husbands, living apart together, same sex couples etc. Chester, Giddens, RapoportsDifferent sociological explanations for the reasons and significance of these trends. Weeks, Chester, StaceyIncluding the significance of individual choice in personal relationships and the significance of relationships beyond the traditional family structures. May, Smart, Stacey

5. Changing patterns of family life.1. What have been the main changes in the last 40 years?2. Reasons for these changes?3. Implications for these changes?Debates surrounding family diversity.Does family diversity exist?2. Is it a good thing? OR a bad thing?3. What would different sociological approaches say?

6. Starter: ContinuumDo you think the last 20 years our family relationships have witnessedContinuity Radical Change1 10Activity 1: Analyse the social trends in the graphs

7. Changes in the Patterns of Family Life

8. Marriages

9. Cohabitationons (2007)

10. Cohabitation

11. Families and Households ONS 2011

12. Same-Sex Relationships

13. Lone Parents with Dependent ChildrenONS 2011

14. One Person HouseholdsONS

15. RemarriageSocial Trends 2011

16. Family Types UKSocial Trends 2011

17. Family Type and ChildrenSocial Trends 2010

18. IntroductionIn the past 30 or 40 years there have been some major changes in family and household patterns:Number of nuclear family households has fallenDivorce rates have increasedFewer first marriages, more re-marriages and people are marrying later in lifeMore couples cohabitingSame-sex relationships legally recognisedWomen having fewer children/having them laterMore births outside of marriageMore lone-parent familiesMore people live aloneMore stepfamiliesMore couples without children

19. Change or continuity?Methodological point.Does it depend on how you measure it?Consider the use of snapshot data from the Census Vs the use of life-span data.

20. Main changes

21. Life courseSequence of significant events individuals experience from birth to death, the choices they make and the meanings they give to stages of their lives and events such as marriage or cohabitation, parenthood, divorce or retirement.

22. Life courseA traditional life course.ChildhoodEducationMarriage (living together, having sex, having children)Cereal-Packet FamilyRetirementA contemporary life course.Marriage is no longer for life.CohabitationSex outside marriageLiving Apart TogetherDiversity to our personal relationships.

23. The Individualization ThesisProcess where traditional norms, beliefs, social relationships and roles lose their influence over the lives of others.More personal choice on how to live your life.Contraception has separated reproduction from sexuality.Women’s employment has reduced their economic dependence on men.Feminism – women want more than expressive roles.Language of family has changed – we do not necessarily share the same family name, we refer to our partners.

24. Giddens: Confluent Love and ‘Pure Relationships’Landscape of love is changing.Marriage is not a life-long commitment. We marry for love and not necessarily for life.Pure relationships are not necessarily forever and are controlled by external forces e.g. family, social expectations.Confluent love is active and conditional.Intimate relationships are based on trust, emotional intimacy and mutual understanding.People choose to stay together if the relationship meets their emotional and sexual needs.

25. All You Need Is LoveGiddens – the growing diversity of family relationships is fuelled by individuals endless search for love and pure relationships.“People marry for the sake of love, divorce for the sake of love and engage in an endless cycle of hoping, regretting and trying again”

26. Critique of Individualization ThesisExaggeration? Are we cut free from family and societal expectations? Do we all have as much personal choice as suggested? Evidence? People living slightly different lifestyles – more equality in gender relationships, some cohabitation and same sex relationships but the basic infrastructure of family life remains.Does individualisation thesis only ‘fit’ a small section of white, heterosexual, middle-class couples and ignores the impact of class, gender and ethnicity?Same-sex relationships would not be acceptable in all communities.

27. DivorceIs the legal end or dissolution of a marriage/marital union

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30. Divorce is only one indicator of marital breakdown...Legal separation: The partners separate, but the marriage continues to exist. There are no reliable statistics available, as not all separations are formal, and recorded.Desertion: One partner leaves the family. Again, reliable figures unobtainable, but Chester (1975) argues both separation and desertion are increasing.Empty shell marriage: The couple live together but there is no love or affectionMethodological point.We should be cautious about the usefulness of divorce statistics.They only show legal separation.The rates of real separation may be much higher.How many unhappy marriages existed before divorce was made easier? Are we witnessing a real increase in marital instability?

31. Task:Reasons for the increase in the divorce rateBrainstorm the above point

32. Legal changesDivorce is now cheaper and easier to get.1971 Divorce Reform Act – No longer needed to prove a matrimonial offence. ‘Irretrievable breakdown’ – 2 years of separation.1981 Act – only needed 1 year of separation.1999 Act – cooling off period and compulsory counselling.2011 Act – mediation should be used to sort out disputes to speed up process.

33. Rising expectations of marriageCouples expect more from their marriages.Giddens – Confluent love and pure relationships.However - Functionalists – high rates of re-marriage suggest marriage is still popular. High levels of divorce are functional as you are left with better quality relationships.

34. Changes in the position of womenImpact of feminism – women’s expectations of life and relationships has changed.Reject housewife-mother role.Increase in women’s employmentWomen are financially independentHowever – dual burden, triple shift, the debate over symmetrical families – maybe not as much change as suggested.

35. Less stigmaLess social disapproval and condemnation of divorce.Divorce has become a normal experience.No longer hinders careers or causes scandal and outrage.People are less afraid of seeking a divorce.However – divorce still less acceptable in some communities e.g. catholicism.

36. Growing secularisationSecularisation - declining influence of religious belief and institutions.Marriage is less of a sacred, spiritual union and more of a personal and practical commitment which can be abandoned if it fails.Less 1/3 marriages take place with a religious ceremony.However, secularisation is a contested concept.

37. Variations in Divorce RatesFollowing groups have higher rates of divorce:Men and women in their late 20s.Teenage marriages.Marriages of 5 -7 years and 10 – 14 years.Working classes.Childless couplesPartners from different religious or ethnic backgrounds.

38. To start...A ‘Dear John’ letter is a term that used to be given to the letters than women would leave their partners when they wanted to divorce them.Write a Dear John letter that exhibits one of the sociological explanations for the rise in the divorce rate.Dear John, I’m leaving you because...

39. Reasons for the increase of divorceGroup Task – Arrange in a diamond shape which is most important and why?

40. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0bgy7T_Scs

41. Talking to children about divorcehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTd-aEuD_pw

42. DivorceHow is the concept of child-centredness reinforced or otherwise in this programme?What other factors must be taken into account when looking at the consequences of divorce? E.g. economic factors

43. Perspectives on divorce...FunctionalistsFeministsPostmodernistsNew Right

44. Perspectives on high divorce rateFunctionalistsNot necessarily a bad thing – people have high expectations of marriage and high rates of remarriage prove it is still functional.FeministsDesirable – women breaking the oppression of the patriarchal nuclear familyPostmodernistsDesirable – give individuals the right to choose their own relationships. Will produce greater family diversity.New RightUndesirable – undermined traditional family structures. Creates an underclass of lone parents

45. Remember that the divorce rate only applies to the number of divorces per 1000 married people. The actual number of divorces is incidental.

46. Question:What % of divorce petitions are made by women? (Ie, what % of divorces are initiated by women?)75%

47. Task:Examine sociological explanations for the rise in the divorce rate (24)

48. Suggest 3 reasons for the increase in the divorce rate since 1900 (6 marks)Remember: It is not enough to just suggest the reason, elaborate

49. Reasons for the increase of divorce

50. Changing Patterns of Marriage and Partnership

51. Describe the patterns found in this graph

52. What do these terms mean again?Serial monogamyMarriageCohabitationSerial monogamy – when a person has a series of serious relationships, often made official through marriage, and often then leading to divorce and remarriage.Marriage – the legal joining of two people. A legal contract between two individuals that unites their lives legally, economically and emotionally.Cohabitation - when a couple live together but are not married

53. Marriage & Cohabitation: The FactsFewer people are getting married in the UK1 in 3 of marriages are re-marriages.Those who do marry are putting it off (30+)Cohabitation on the increase (doubled 1996 – 2012)4/5 of those who marry cohabit first2014 – 15% of all families with dependent children are from cohabitation.

54. Rise in cohabitation: What does it mean?

55. Reasons for changes?

56. Essay TitleExamine the changing patterns of marriage and partnership since the 1960’s (20 marks)

57. Perspectives on marriage and cohabitation...FunctionalistsFeministsPostmodernistsNew Right

58. Living Apart Together relationships“Couples in intimate, committed relationships but who do not share a common home. Choose to live separately”2 million couples in the UK.

59. LATs – Why?High divorce rates – LATs a practical response to a broken relationship.Growth of individualisation and choice.Changes in labour market.Modern technology – couples can stay connected.

60. LATs – Meaning?

61. Perspectives on LATs...FunctionalistsFeministsPostmodernistsNew Right

62. Childbearing

63. Birth rate = The number of live births per 1000 of the populationFertility rate = Number of children born per 1000 women aged 15 to 44. This figure refers to the number of children that women of child-bearing age have in a year.

64. Childbearing and family sizeIn the 1870’s women would have on average 6 children.In the 1960’s the average was 2.7 children.Today the average is 2, but was 1.6 in 2001In the 1970’s most women had their first child in their mid 20’s.Today, it is nearer 30.Also, today, an increasing number of children are now born to unmarried couples.

65. Decline of the Birth Rate: Why are women having fewer children?

66. Decline of the Birth Rate: Why are women having fewer children?The decline of infant mortality rate. Most children survive into adulthood.The introduction of reliable contraception in the 1960’s (especially the pill)The increased expense of childrenWomen are having children later, leaving less time to have children.The impact of feminism, and women prioritising their careers.Child centeredness

67. Why are more children born outside of marriage?The increase in the number of people cohabiting.Couples are less stigmatised (looked down upon) for having children outside of marriage.Secularisation – People are less influenced by religion and are more likely to have sex outside of marriage.

68. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qjekxe8zjFw&feature=channelWho would agree with the sentiments expressed at the start of this clip?

69. Lone Parenthood: The Facts% has tripled since 1971.1 in 4 families are lone parent families.9 out of 10 headed by a woman.Why are most headed by a woman?Divorce courts more likely to award custody to the mother, the assumption that women are better carers.

70. Lone parenthood: why on the rise?

71. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3kIYDojk_k

72. Which sociological perspectives would take issue with single mothers and why?Have a two minute discussion with your table and be prepared to feedback.Be sure to be able to explain why...using appropriate key terms.

73. The New RightMurray: Single parenthood creates an anti-social underclass of benefit claimers.FunctionalistsThe Nuclear family is ideal, second best option is a reconstituted family so instrumental/expressive roles and needs are metFeministsAll Feminists promote choice for women and dislike the stigmatization of single parents. Radical Feminists favour matrifocal families (female centred). PostmodernistsThey promote choice too. Sometimes, single parent families offer more independence.

74. Task:Read through the section titled: ‘Lone parenthood, the welfare state...’Create a detailed PERCy paragraph (like my example earlier) that address this question:‘Examine the New Right approach to lone parent families’Think about: Key terms, theorist, clarity, critique

75. Remarriage and Reconstituted families1 in 3 marriages are re-marriages for one or both partners.More men remarry than women.Trend towards serial monogamy.½ million step families in the UK.Life in stepfamilies is complex.The role of the step parent is often unclear.

76. Keyword for today...Beanpole families

77. Beanpole families...Are families with one or two children that maintain regular contact with grandparents.As the family size shrinks, the relationships between grandparents and grandchildren become more intense.

78. How are beanpole families created?Fewer children being born (more precious)Longer life expectancy – grandparents also used as babysitters.More divorce – means possible extended family contacts are lost (aunties, cousins etc)Families are more geographically mobile (move around)

79. Read through the sheet...Answer these questions:What do Grundy and Henretta mean by the sandwich generation?Why are this ‘generation’ predominantly women?How would feminists react to this? Those of you that really know your stuff (A chasers) might be able to explain how the different types of feminists might respond (liberal, radical and Marxist)

80. January 2011 QuestionExamine the reasons for changes in the patterns of marriage and cohabitation in the last 40 years or so (20 marks)

81. Plenary: Plan meHome learningExamine sociological explanations for the rise in the divorce rate (20 marks)

82. Family Diversity

83. Gay Parents better than straight?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCNdHXv7pC0http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_H7JD3KKzFEhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sfr3Nr9Jyc

84. Family DiversityWhat does it mean?Who discusses it?Good idea or a Bad idea?

85. AGEETHNICITY/CULTURALCLASSGENDER (SAME SEX PARTNERSHIPS/FAMILIES)ROLESSIZEFAMILY TYPESRELATIONSHIPSLENGTH OF PARTNERSHIP

86. When most people think of the term ‘family’ we stereotypically have an image of a nuclear family of 2 parents, 2 kids and perhaps a pet...even if we have not come from these familiesIt’s best to think of family diversity as anything that deviates from that image or between cultures.

87. New Right The family is ‘in decline’ – cohabitation, divorce and out of wedlock births are signsTraditional nuclear/2 parent household is the most idealLack of male role model in lone parent families might mean that children (especially boys) are inadequately socialised, might turn to crime/deviance– and they too will not correctly socialise their children.Parents (espec father) who do not work and claim benefits/welfare are likely to breed a culture of dependency – their children see it is ok not to work and pass this on to their children.State benefits often favour those that are not married – they believe lone parent benefits are offer a ‘perverse incentive’ that encourage single parenting. Anti-feminist

88. New Right theorists are therefore keen on government policies that strengthen self-reliance for the traditional two-parent family. Murray argues that the UK is developing an underclass which is associated with crime, unemployment, and educational failure. This is because of the generosity of the welfare state, which provides handouts in the form of benefits and housing to single parents. He calls these ‘perverse incentives’.

89. Task:Complete the New Right sheetThen, using the paper and pens, create a guide that explain the following points:The New Right love...The New Right hate...

90. New Right key terms

91. Stage 1You need to gather all of the facts within this article.Make no judgements, just pick out the key information.

92. Stage 2What are the personal responses of your group?How do you feel about this issue?Do any of you agree or disagree?

93. Stage 3Can you criticise the author?Are there any flaws in her argument or negatives?Is there anything she had failed to consider?

94. Stage 4What are the positive aspects of this article or this debate?What points might be made in agreement?

95. Stage 5What would the major sociological perspectives have to say about Phillips’ views?

96. Stage 6What would Phillips’ solution to these problems be?Try and make a prediction about what she thinks should be done to prevent riots like this and other forms of societal ‘breakdown’ in the future.

97. Riots? Poor Parenting or Sick Society?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-4rqIpBxYU

98. Task: Criticisms of the New RightI want you to have a think about the New Right and how they can be critiqued.Think about direct criticisms of their theories (why you might agree/disagree with them)Then think about how the criticisms that other sociological perspectives might make.

99. New Right and Family DiversityTask:Write up this perspective in a PERC format.

100. Who agrees/disagrees with diversity?Diversity is goodDiversity is badPostmodernistsFeministsNew RightFunctionalistsWhy?

101. Developing AO2 skills‘The perfect family does exist’Hate Mail Task.My personal response is ..A counter view would be …Agree with point above and explain a sociological theory that supports it.Counter argue the point above with an alternative sociological view.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5ZsItkG7Sk

102. Chester (1985): The Neo-Conventional FamilySupport for Functionalist views about the traditional family structure.Chester agrees that there has been some family diversity over the years, but disagrees with the NR in saying that the family is in decline.He says that the only major change has been from the conventional nuclear family (with instrumental and expressive roles) to the Neo-Conventional family – where both spouses go out an work.

103. Chester believes that people are not choosing to live in alternative family structures on a long-term basis (ie, lone parent) He says that the nuclear family has still remained the ideal.Chester believes that although many people may not be in a nuclear family, they will have been at some point – ie, an elderly widow or divorceeStatistics on households and family types are just a snapshot in time – don’t tell us about peoples life cycle.

104. Evidence Chester gives for his views:Most people live in a household headed by a married coupleMost adults still marry and have childrenMost marriages continue until deathDivorce has increased, but most divorcees remarryCohabitation has increased but it usually is a phase before marriageEven though births outside of marriage have increased, both parents take responsibility

105. 5 Types of Family Diversity: RapoportsDisagree with Chester and argue that there have been key moves in family diversityFamilies in Britain have adapted to a pluralistic society (a society that is cultural more diverse)There is more freedom of choiceDiversity is a response to peoples different needs and wishes.They identify 5 key types of family diversity in Britain today

106. Organisational diversityThe way family role are organised are more diverse joint conjugal roles, segregated conjugal roles, male care-giver, dual earners.Cultural diversityPeople from different cultural, religious and ethnic backgrounds have different structures: e.g., female headed lone parent households are common amongst British-Caribbean's, extended families are more common in South Asian communities.

107. Social Class diversityClass differences in child-rearing practices: Sugarman – delayed and immediate gratification. Class can also affect family structure.Life-stage diversityFamily structure is not fixed, it changes dependant on how far along you are. E.g., newlyweds – nuclear fam – retired couple – become grandparentsGenerational diversityOlder and younger generations have different views and attitudes about issues, ethics and morality (what is right and wrong) Do you hold the same views as your Grandparents?

108. Example: Cultural diversityIdeasReligion- Muslim families tend to have more children living at home. Jewish families have less children living at home.Ethnicity-Asian & Chinese are less likely to have lone-parent families. Over 45% of Black Caribbean families are lone parent.Role of women-Black Caribbean women keep working full-time after having children. White and Indian go part-time.(see Dale 2004)Berthoud+Beishan (1997) used Nat Figures for Ethnic Minorities to find that a high % of lone parent families are Black Caribbean.Bose(2003) Bangladeshi community in Tower Hamlets in London are finding it hard to keep old traditions alongside modern British society.Archer & Francis found family played an important part in Chinese children achieving well at school.

109. Family Diversity: Who said what?

110. Chester Vs Rapoports: Which idea rings true for you? Class Vote.

111. For nuclear familyConservatives allowing tax concession transfer from one partner to another in married couples and civil partnerships.Murdock (1949)= studied 250 societies and found all contained nuclear family idea of husband, wife and children (own or adopted).Talcott Parsons (1955) Warm bath theory of family provides i) primary socialisation ii) stabilisation of adults New Right= nuclear family cornerstone of society. Breakdown of family leads to breakdown of society.Chester (1985) The neo-conventional family is just a minor change to the nuclear family – people still choose it over other types.

112. Against nuclear family Barrett+McIntosh (1982)Ideology of nuclear family devalues alternative family types. They also highlighted negatives of nuclear family.Dark side of family include:- Laing(1976) psychiatrist who said family causes mental illness. Stanko (2003) domestic violence usually men against women. Marxist view = exploiting working classes. Zaretsky (1976) sees work as unfulfilling so people seek refuge in the family.Feminist view= nuclear family is patriarchal Oakley (1974)= women dependent on man for money so does more domestic tasks and has less power in the household decisionsPostmodern views=(Post)Modern families are all about choice and negotiation. Society is more individualised and members put more emphasis on personal happiness (Giddens, Beck, Stacey, Weeks)

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114. What is postmodernism?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqsP0vQJJ44http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oL8MhYq9owo&feature=related

115. Postmodernists Diversity is all around us – it is a fact of lifePostmodernists believe Western societies have become more individualised (focused on the self) our happiness is more important than upholding social norms.Increased choice and options in life have led to diversityWe have such a wide variety of beliefs and values nowadays that we no longer agree on what’s ‘normal’ – diversity is a natural result of thisHowever, some Postmodernists believe that diversity can create uncertainty. This is because we don’t all agree on the same social norms, or we don’t have them shoved down our throat like we used to.

116. An example of a Postmodern TV show…http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WNrx2jq184Postmodernism checklist - not definitive!Fragmented structure/non-linear narrativeChallenging of meta-narrative (Lyotard and Strinati)Playing with time and space (Strinati)Conventions of genre challenged/subvertedAsks questions not giving answers, allowing audience interpretationMultiplicity of meanings linked to audience interpretationsParody and pastiche – creating something new through imitation, homage (tribute)Cult of celebrity – celebrity obsessed society – style over substanceNo single definition – open to interpretation – concept crosses art, media, literature, architecture, music, society

117. What are the key features of Postmodern society?Diversity and fragmentationBecause of social, cultural and ethnic diversity – there is no dominant culture shared by all.People pick and mix their own identities and lifestyles from a diverse rangeRapid social changeRapid technological advances have changed the way we communicate – time and space barriers have been removed.Because of these changes and increased choices– life is much less predictable and stable.People will end marriages and relationships if something better comes along.

118. Task: In groupsYou will be given a theory to take apart and understand.You must summarise the ideas/theory etc on the big paper – focusing on the questions below.Why is the theory postmodern?How do the ideas promote diversity?How do they show that families have changed over time?

119. Postmodernism and Family Diversity

120. Our own soap...Task: You need to demonstrate your theory to the rest of the class.Create a short soap-opera sketch that demonstrates the ideas expressed in your research. Over-act.

121. If I ask her to marry me, that’s it...I'm tied down foreverIt’s been three years and he still hasn't proposed. I guess he doesn't love me. Ill break up with him in the morning“Darling, me and Daddy are breaking up. He just isn't that the man I married and he doesn't make me happy anymore. I don't feel like he’s supporting my career choices”

122. Postmodernists reject familial ideologyWe make choices about our family life and relationships. Postmodern society is chaotic – with regards to relationships and life, anything goes.They reject the views of Functionalists and the New Right: Do we really think about the needs of society when we embark on relationships?More choice about our personal relationships, family diversity means it is irrelevant to talk of an ideal family

123. Life course analysisThese Postmodernists look at families on a personal level and their relationships with one another Morgan (2007)Argues that today's society is becoming more fragmented – networks such as family, friendship and other relationships are becoming blurred.

124. Postmodern society: Pros and ConsAll this choice and diversity give people greater freedom to choice their own life course, the kind of family they want and their personal relationships.But, greater freedom of choice means a greater risk of instability – since these relationships are more likely to break up. In the past, fear of social disapproval and financial ruin kept families together.

125. Giddens (1992)Relationships have been changed by:Contraception – sex and intimacy become more importantWomen gaining independence and equal oppsWomen’s financial independenceAs a result of these changes, the basis of relationships, cohabitation and marriage has changedThe couple define their relationship and their roles–they are together out of genuine love and intimacy, and not because of societal pressure, cultural background or expectation – PURE RELATIONSHIPS

126. Confluent love is the term Giddens give the type of relationship where it is agreed that they couple will split if they fall out of love.The relationship should serve each partners needs – it is much more likely to end if the couple no longer feel attracted to one another or happy with one anotherThis ties in with the idea that in postmodern society, people are more individualised (selfish) They are more likely to split because they don’t make each other happy, rather than stay together because of their family

127. Risk Society: BeckWe now live in a risk society where tradition has less influence – we have more choice and we are more aware of risks and take these into account when making decisions.If I ask her to marry me, that’s it...I'm tied down foreverIt’s been three years and he still hasn't proposed. I guess he doesn't love me. Ill break up with him in the morning

128. Risk societyBecause we have more choice and diversity, this has brought more risk and uncertainty.In the past clear gender roles and expectations may have been oppressive – but at least people knew where they stood.More individualism and gender equality has lead to an increase in what Beck and Beck-Gernsheim call ‘negotiated families’ – they enter into a relationships or family on their terms, and leave on their terms too.

129. “Darling, me and Daddy are breaking up. He just isn't that the man I married and he doesn't make me happy anymore. I don't feel like he’s supporting my career choices”

130. Giddens and Beck in a nutshellMore choiceMore equalityThe individual is more important than communityMore uncertaintyLess stable relationshipsThis is reflected by that trends: Marriage is less common, divorce is more common, children born out of marriage, more cohabitation

131. Stacey (1998): Divorce extended familyIncreased choice has benefited womenFrees them from patriarchal oppression – the family is shaped to meet their needs (trend: women having fewer children and later in life)Stacey conducted interviews and case studies in California and found that women instigated change in the family and created structures that suited their needsShe saw the emergence of ‘divorce extended families’ who were connected through divorce and not marriage - former in-laws, ex-wives of partner, step-children etc. Diverse families of choice are created according to Stacey

132. Brannen (2003) Beanpole familiesAn ‘ageing population’ - people living longer and more divorce has contributed to the growth beanpole familiesThey are families with one or two children that maintain regular contact with grandparents.As the family size shrinks, the relationships between grandparents and grandchildren become more intense.

133. How are beanpole families created?Fewer children being born (more precious)Longer life expectancy – grandparents also used as babysitters.More divorce – means possible extended family contacts are lost (aunties, cousins etc)Families are more geographically mobile (move around)

134. Grundy and Henretta: Sandwich generation (2006_The sandwich generation are people who care for their aging parents while supporting their own children and usually Grandchildren as well.The sandwich generation is typically women aged 55-69

135. Weeks: Growing acceptance of family diversityWeeks (2000) argues that since the 50’s attitudes have changed massively, aided by secularisation and a decline of state power.Weeks sees a growing acceptance of family and sexual diversity – attitudes towards cohabitation and homosexuality have changedBut, Weeks says that although the diversity is apparent, traditional, heterosexual families are still the most popular.

136. Evidence to support Weeks’ viewsCivil partnerships for same-sex partnersGay adoption is legal in the UK, Spain, Sweden, Norway and some states in the US.Homosexuality was legalised in the UK in 1967.More people are ‘out’ as gay than in previous decades.

137. Family Diversity: Essay QuestionsAssess sociological explanations of the nature and extent of family diversity today? (24 marks)Assess the view that the growth of family diversity has led to the decline in the traditional family. (24 marks)

138. Family Diversity: Essay QuestionsAssess sociological explanations of the nature and extent of family diversity today? (24 marks)Assess the view that the growth of family diversity has led to the decline in the traditional family. (24 marks)