Evaluate the view that social policies are the main reason for increased family diversity.
CAMBRIDGE
A level and AS level
2022
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Introduction
Introduce the topic of family diversity and the debate surrounding its causes. Briefly define key concepts such as family diversity, social policies, and nuclear family. State your thesis statement, indicating whether you agree or disagree with the view that social policies are the main reason for increased family diversity.
Arguments in Support
Social Policies as Drivers
Explain how social policies, such as divorce laws, legal recognition of same-sex relationships, and welfare support for single-parent families, have enabled and encouraged the formation of new family forms.
Cultural Influences
Discuss the role of social policies in supporting religious and cultural diversity, and how this has contributed to a broader range of family structures. Explain how migration and globalization have introduced alternative family forms and influenced societal norms.
Arguments Against
Changing Social Attitudes
Explain how changing social attitudes towards gender roles, relationships, and family structures have driven the shift towards greater diversity.
Individualism and Personal Choice
Discuss the impact of individualism, where people prioritize personal desires and ambitions over traditional family models, leading to diverse choices.
Demographic Shifts
Explain how demographic changes, such as increased life expectancy and changing patterns of marriage and fertility, have contributed to changes in family structures.
Secularization and Feminism
Analyze the role of secularization and the rise of feminism in undermining traditional family norms and empowering women to make independent choices, leading to different family forms.
Research Evidence
Provide specific examples of social policies (e.g., Divorce Acts, Civil Partnership Acts) and relevant sociological theories (e.g., New Right, Liberal Feminism, Giddens, Global Optimists) that support or refute the argument that social policies are the main cause of family diversity.
Conclusion
Reiterate your thesis statement and summarize the main points of your argument. Discuss the limitations of relying solely on social policy to explain family diversity. Acknowledge the complexity of the issue and the interplay of various factors.
Social Policies and Family Diversity
Family diversity refers to the variation in family structures beyond the traditional nuclear family. This essay will evaluate the view that social policies are the main reason for increased family diversity in contemporary society.
Arguments in Support: The Role of Social Policy
Social policies have undoubtedly played a significant role in shaping family structures. Legislation like the Divorce Acts in various countries made divorce more accessible, enabling the formation of single-parent, reconstituted, and blended families. Similarly, the legal recognition of same-sex partnerships through Civil Partnership Acts and same-sex marriage laws has legitimized and normalized same-sex families.
Furthermore, welfare systems, while often criticized by perspectives like the New Right (e.g., Murray) for creating a dependency culture, provide essential financial support for single-parent families, making this family type a more viable option. Policies promoting religious and cultural diversity also contribute to the acceptance of diverse family forms that may be traditional in immigrant communities.
Arguments Against: Broader Social Changes
However, attributing family diversity solely to social policies is a reductionist approach. Societal values and attitudes have undergone a significant transformation. Increasing individualism (Giddens) encourages people to prioritize personal fulfillment and choose family forms that align with their aspirations. Women, empowered by feminist ideals and educational and professional opportunities, are increasingly delaying marriage and childbearing, leading to smaller families and a rise in cohabitation.
Secularization has weakened the influence of traditional religious doctrines on family life. Demographic changes, like increased life expectancy, also contribute to the likelihood of relationship breakdowns and the formation of new partnerships later in life. The Rapoports, in their work on family diversity, highlight these pluralistic influences.
The Interplay of Policy and Social Change
It's crucial to recognize the interplay between social policy and broader social change. For example, globalization has exposed societies to different family models, influencing attitudes and, in turn, policy. While social policies might legalize certain family forms, their acceptance hinges on evolving social norms. For instance, the liberal feminist perspective argues that while policies are essential, true equality requires tackling underlying social inequalities.
Conclusion: A Complex and Multifaceted Relationship
In conclusion, while social policies have undeniably contributed to the diversification of family structures, they are not the sole driver. Changes in social attitudes, individualistic values, economic shifts, and demographic factors are equally influential. Attributing family diversity solely to social policy ignores the complex interplay of forces shaping family life in the 21st century. Although the nuclear family remains statistically significant, the increasing visibility and acceptance of diverse family forms point towards a future where diversity is the norm rather than the exception.
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Evaluate the view that social policies are the main reason for increased family diversity.
In support
- Laws making divorce more accessible to enable new family formation.
- New laws legally recognising other family forms, e.g. same-sex.
- Welfare system to financially support single-parent families.
- Social policies supporting religious and cultural diversity.
- Increased migration has introduced alternative family forms to the cultural dominant.
- Globalisation has led to the transmission of western ideas onto non-western cultures.
Against the view
- Changing social attitudes and wider acceptance of different family forms.
- Growth in individualism leading people to choose family forms reflecting personal desires and ambitions.
- Women focusing on education/careers, resulting in having children later in life and smaller families.
- Secularisation and loss of religious influence.
- Demographic changes influencing family structures.
- Impact of feminism and rise in female independence altering relationship dynamics within the family.
- Increased life expectancy contributing to more chances of separating/divorcing and forming new family forms.
- Increased family diversity may be exaggerated, as the nuclear family remains dominant.
Research evidence
- Divorce Acts, Civil Partnership Acts
- The works of Murray, Morgan, New Right Beck, Wilkinson, liberal feminism, Rapoport & Rapoport, Giddens, Global optimists, Smart & Stevens
- Additional concepts like cohabitation, underclass, reconstituted and blended families, matrifocal, individualism, pure relationship, symmetrical family, negotiated family, lifecourse analysis, dual earner nuclear family