WJEC Eduqas GCSE Sociology Revision Guide

27 Family diversity Strengths of the Rapoports view of family diversity are: They believe that there is no ‘correct’type of family and Britain is no longer dominated by one family type. They believe that the changes in the types of family are positive as it gives people more choices in their lives. They take into account differences in class and culture and the age of the people in the family. Weaknesses of the Rapoports view of family diversity are: The Rapoports say that families are households but households are not necessarily families. Doesn’t take into account the increase of single person households. They used secondary sources, secondary data and the work of other sociologists. Strengths of Robert Chester’s view of family diversity are: Robert Chester acknowledges that that there has some been an increase in family diversity and doesn’t see this as negative. He believes that the extent of family diversity has been exaggerated and that the nuclear family is still the dominant family type but one where both the male and the female play an equally important role (neo- conventional family). Somerville supports his view. He argues that the while the statistics are showing a decline in the traditional nuclear family, they are not taking into account the ageing population and the inevitable increase of widows and widowers no longer living in nuclear families. Weaknesses of Robert Chester’s view of family diversity are: The number of people living in nuclear families is declining. Boulton found that while men may help out more with the childcare it is still women who are the primary caregivers. The British Social Attitudes Survey found that women still do the majority of the housework. Although this revision spread is about family diversity try to also think of ways of bringing in the different types of family and the various sociological perspectives on the family and how they are linked. Robert Chester is a sociologist who argues that the nuclear family is still the main family type. He says this is shown in the majority of people getting married and no divorcing, in cohabitation still often being a trial run for marriage, that most people have experience of a nuclear family and that divorced people often remarry. Living with extended family can help parents financially and can provide practical help with childcare. Knowledge check 1. Describe what is meant by family diversity. (2 marks) 2. Outline two ways in which family life may vary between ethnic groups. (4 marks) 3. Explain the increase in lone- parent families in Britain today. You should explore at least two reasons in your response. (8 marks) 4. Evaluate the view that changing norms and values have contributed to growing diversity in family life today. (15 marks)