Sociology – family essay.
Examine the extent and reason for family diversity.
Throughout the past 50 years, some sociologists have claimed that families and households have become more diverse. Robert and Rhona Rapoport were amongst the first sociologists to identify these changes. They noticed that the nuclear family or sometimes called the ‘cereal packet family’, was no longer the main type of family, as other types were becoming more common, such as singletons and reconstituted families, however Robert Chester argues that nuclear families are still the conventional family. He bases his arguments on the fact that most family types derive from or will become a nuclear family, for example, single-parent families once was a nuclear family
…show more content…
These will be examined as followed:
Single-parent families have become much more common, now being 25% of all families with dependant children. The main reason for the increase in single parent families is divorce, as laws changed in the early 70’s making divorce cheaper and easier(no longer have to prove a matrimonial offense), as well as some churches accepting divorce and secularisation. Through secularisation, there has been less of a stigma attached to divorce, there for we find a greater social acceptance. Cashmore points out that Single parents are not bad for society, as it is better to have one good parent than two bad ones.
Feminism has played a big part in family diversity. Feminists argue towards gender inequality. They have changed the ways in which women are perceived and now women have and equal status to men, although some inequalities still exist, such as women earning less than men in some jobs. Women are now more financially independent and can make decisions for themselves, such as divorce, not only would they have their own salary, but the welfare state provide financial support single parents today with a range of benefits and now over 90% of single-parent families are headed by