The view that the family is
in decline is support by sociologists like Beck and Murdock but other
sociologists such as Allan and Crow, and Chester disagree. They mainly disagree
because they believe that ‘the family’ doesn’t exist as there are so many
types, for example, nuclear, extended, and beanpole. These sociologists suggest
that the term ‘the family’ should be altered to ‘families’.
Firstly, Beck found evidence
to suggest we think about ourselves more due to individualism and that our
decisions are based on self-interests. Due to this there has been increase in
the number of single-person house-holds, in 1971 according to National
Statistics, there were three million single-person households but by 2005 that
figure had increased to seven million. Chandler is another sociologist who
agrees with Beck because his findings suggest single-person households which
consist of a male are likely to increase to 14 per cent by 2021. Chandler
states that one reason for the increase in single person household is, the
increase in the number of broken marriages. The family is in decline.
On the other hand, Allan and
Crow, and Chester believe the term ‘the family’ shouldn’t be used because there
are some many different types of families. Some types of families are nuclear,
extended, beanpole, modified-extended, and LAT (living apart together). Extended
families and beanpole families are decreasing because of smaller family sizes
but the nuclear family as well as cohabiting couples are on a rise. The nuclear
family is increasing because it is the ideal family type as described by
Murdock, it is also increasing because Allan and Crow suggest that most people
live in a nuclear family at least once in their life time. One more reason for
the increase in the nuclear family although lots of people are getting a divorce
is that divorcees find other divorcees and marry them. This type of family is
called reconstituted and National Statistics show that in 2004, 10 per cent of
all families were reconstituted. The family is not in decline.
Secondly, Murdock states the
family is in decline because to his knowledge ‘the family’ means‘the nuclear
family’ which is decreasing. The nuclear family is in decline due to the
increase in cohabitation and divorce. In 1950, 410,000 people got married
according to National Statistics but in 2005 that figure was about 290,000
because there was a decline of the ‘living in sin’ stigma if you were living
together but were not married so more people started to cohabitate. Divorce
rates are the main reason for the decline in the family because more and more
people are getting divorced every year. Divorce rates are increasing due to how
easy law has made it to get a divorce, for example ‘The Divorce Reform Act’
which was introduced in 1969. In 1981, 12,000 people got a divorce but in 2003
about 14,000 people got divorced. The evidence suggests that the family is in
decline.
To conclude, Beck and
Murdock suggest the family is in decline but Allan and Crow, and Chester feel
it is increasing. There is a stronger argument and more realistic evidence to
suggest the family is not in decline.
in decline is support by sociologists like Beck and Murdock but other
sociologists such as Allan and Crow, and Chester disagree. They mainly disagree
because they believe that ‘the family’ doesn’t exist as there are so many
types, for example, nuclear, extended, and beanpole. These sociologists suggest
that the term ‘the family’ should be altered to ‘families’.
Firstly, Beck found evidence
to suggest we think about ourselves more due to individualism and that our
decisions are based on self-interests. Due to this there has been increase in
the number of single-person house-holds, in 1971 according to National
Statistics, there were three million single-person households but by 2005 that
figure had increased to seven million. Chandler is another sociologist who
agrees with Beck because his findings suggest single-person households which
consist of a male are likely to increase to 14 per cent by 2021. Chandler
states that one reason for the increase in single person household is, the
increase in the number of broken marriages. The family is in decline.
On the other hand, Allan and
Crow, and Chester believe the term ‘the family’ shouldn’t be used because there
are some many different types of families. Some types of families are nuclear,
extended, beanpole, modified-extended, and LAT (living apart together). Extended
families and beanpole families are decreasing because of smaller family sizes
but the nuclear family as well as cohabiting couples are on a rise. The nuclear
family is increasing because it is the ideal family type as described by
Murdock, it is also increasing because Allan and Crow suggest that most people
live in a nuclear family at least once in their life time. One more reason for
the increase in the nuclear family although lots of people are getting a divorce
is that divorcees find other divorcees and marry them. This type of family is
called reconstituted and National Statistics show that in 2004, 10 per cent of
all families were reconstituted. The family is not in decline.
Secondly, Murdock states the
family is in decline because to his knowledge ‘the family’ means‘the nuclear
family’ which is decreasing. The nuclear family is in decline due to the
increase in cohabitation and divorce. In 1950, 410,000 people got married
according to National Statistics but in 2005 that figure was about 290,000
because there was a decline of the ‘living in sin’ stigma if you were living
together but were not married so more people started to cohabitate. Divorce
rates are the main reason for the decline in the family because more and more
people are getting divorced every year. Divorce rates are increasing due to how
easy law has made it to get a divorce, for example ‘The Divorce Reform Act’
which was introduced in 1969. In 1981, 12,000 people got a divorce but in 2003
about 14,000 people got divorced. The evidence suggests that the family is in
decline.
To conclude, Beck and
Murdock suggest the family is in decline but Allan and Crow, and Chester feel
it is increasing. There is a stronger argument and more realistic evidence to
suggest the family is not in decline.