Perspectives on the nuclear family

Question 1

Who has the strongest concerns about family diversity

Answer 1

• The New Right

- They see it as destroying traditional family values

Question 2

What do the New Right call for policies to do

Answer 2

• Strengthen marriage

- Encourage raising children in nuclear families

Question 3

Whhat do Beck and Beck-Gernsheim say about family diversity

Answer 3

• Do not advocate the nuclear family as the ideal form

- Have expressed concern at the way which individuals concern about commitment has undermined family life

Question 4

What does Giddens argue

Answer 4

• There has been a democratisation of intimate relationships
• This means individuals are not forced into relationships but only engage with them when they find them fulfilling
• This means there is more equality between partners

Question 5

What do feminists say about family diversity

Answer 5

• Welcome diversity
• Argue the traditional nuclear family was patriarchhal
• Women can now opt out of marriage, be a single mother or engage in lesbianism

Question 6

What does Wendy Langford (1999) argue

Answer 6

• Agrees with Giddens in that love can be transforming and liberating
• Suggests women often end up feeling alienated as they invest emotionally nad do not receive the same deep emotional intimacy that’s meant to occur in confluent love

Question 7

What does Chambers (2012) suggest

Answer 7

Women in non-traditional families such as single mums and lesbians often face condemnation from traditional sections of society and media

Question 8

What does Chester suggest

Answer 8

All families are based on the nuclear family