SociologyExchange.co.uk Shared Resource

- Family Diversity -

Is family diversity good for society?

Objectives

1. To know the modernist view of family diversity.

2. To analyse and evaluate the modernist view of family diversity by using Chester and The Rapoports.

Modernism or Post-Modernism?

Write what you think the difference is on a post-it and

stick it to the door.

Modernist Theories

• Functionalism & The New Right

Q) What do we know about their opinions of the nuclear family and gender roles?

Modernist theorists take a structural view, seeing society as a structure!

- Macro Sociology

The traditional nuclear family is best where man and wife have clear roles.

The break-down of the family and the rise of family diversity is the cause of many social problems such as high crime rates and educational failure.

“Quite frankly, I don’t think that mothers

have the same right to go out to work as

fathers do.”

- Conservative MP Pat Jenkins

Write your name on a post-it and stick in on the

decision line.

Complete your activity sheet on Modernism and Family Diversity.

Create a political poster from a ‘New Right’ perspective highlighting the dangers of increasing

family diversity.

Use your work sheet for some ideas.

Objectives

1. To know the modernist view of family diversity.

2. To analyse and evaluate the modernist view of family diversity.

However!

• Oakley – Nuclear Family maintain patriarchal oppression! (Family Diversity is GOOD!)

• No evidence of the ‘dependency culture’.

• Family breakdown can be good!

Neo-Conventional Family

Chester – what do we already know?

Activity – Draw you and your family in 15 years time, label with names and ages.

Most people still aspire to the nuclear family.

People live in other family types as part of the ‘life course’.

The Rapoports – 5 types of Family Diversity

Society has become very diverse. Many people now live in one of five diverse family types.

Look at your sheet and place the family types with the correct explanation.

Objectives

1. To know the modernist view of family diversity.

2. To analyse and evaluate the modernist view of family diversity.

Plenary

• What is meant by the dependency culture?

• Who developed the ‘neo-conventional’ family argument?

• What are the 5 different family diversity types outlined by the Rapoports?