Explain reason for the increase in the diversity of family types in the contemporary Uk (15)
One reason is secularisation, Functionalists believe that there has been a decline in religious
beliefs and practices which has led to a change in our moral values. This means the church has
lost its power to influence individuals morally we now accept more liberal ideas as family types
like cohabitation are no longer stigmatised. Goode argues that people now accept cohabitation
as a part of normal life rather than viewing it as a sin, previously seen as scandalous. Wilson
would support Goode's idea, as through the decline in religion, the belief that people should stay
married is irrelevant. No longer seen as sinful to live in family types outside the traditional
nuclear family, nor frowned upon to have children outside of marriage. This therefore indicates
there has been a rise in family types like blended families and unmarried couples with children.
The second reason is Individualisation, this is because people now have more choices and
freedom within society as social stigmatisation has fallen. Postmodernists believe that there has
been an increase in individualisation as people are less influenced by societal norms and
values.
This would allow individuals to be more driven to live in a way that benefit's their individual
needs.
Beck argues that such choice and freedom have allowed the renegotiation of family relations,
eg.
Cohabitation, in an attempt to find a middle ground. New Right Popenoe believe that there has
been an increase in the emphasis on their personal and emotional needs for self-fulfilment over
community and shared goals. Consequently, alternatively, family types to the traditional nuclear
family have risen which includes cohabitation.
The last reason is Medicalisation, medical advances have led to the improvement of technology
such as IVF, sperm and egg donations and surrogacy. This allows families which are non-
nuclear to have children, favoured by feminists. With the increase in the availability of
contraception and medical knowledge, women are now more able to control their fertility and
limit the number of children. Post Feminist Hakim would support this idea as women now have
more choices when it comes to children and employment. This would therefore lead to an
increase in non-nuclear family types like singlehood.
One reason is secularisation, Functionalists believe that there has been a decline in religious
beliefs and practices which has led to a change in our moral values. This means the church has
lost its power to influence individuals morally we now accept more liberal ideas as family types
like cohabitation are no longer stigmatised. Goode argues that people now accept cohabitation
as a part of normal life rather than viewing it as a sin, previously seen as scandalous. Wilson
would support Goode's idea, as through the decline in religion, the belief that people should stay
married is irrelevant. No longer seen as sinful to live in family types outside the traditional
nuclear family, nor frowned upon to have children outside of marriage. This therefore indicates
there has been a rise in family types like blended families and unmarried couples with children.
The second reason is Individualisation, this is because people now have more choices and
freedom within society as social stigmatisation has fallen. Postmodernists believe that there has
been an increase in individualisation as people are less influenced by societal norms and
values.
This would allow individuals to be more driven to live in a way that benefit's their individual
needs.
Beck argues that such choice and freedom have allowed the renegotiation of family relations,
eg.
Cohabitation, in an attempt to find a middle ground. New Right Popenoe believe that there has
been an increase in the emphasis on their personal and emotional needs for self-fulfilment over
community and shared goals. Consequently, alternatively, family types to the traditional nuclear
family have risen which includes cohabitation.
The last reason is Medicalisation, medical advances have led to the improvement of technology
such as IVF, sperm and egg donations and surrogacy. This allows families which are non-
nuclear to have children, favoured by feminists. With the increase in the availability of
contraception and medical knowledge, women are now more able to control their fertility and
limit the number of children. Post Feminist Hakim would support this idea as women now have
more choices when it comes to children and employment. This would therefore lead to an
increase in non-nuclear family types like singlehood.
