Resources
Print slides 23-30 for paired work
 (Give one between two to work on)
A3 paper for presentations-Likely to run
over into next lesson
(Allow 15-20 mins at start of next lesson
for each pair to present their family and for
rest of class to take notes)
• Family Table

The Causes of Family Diversity
01/10/14
Learning Outcomes
Learning Objective
 All- Will be able to clearly define a
To work in groups to carry out
modern type of family
research into the trends in one family
 Most-Will be able to describe and
type and make a flip chart presentation
explain current trends within family
about it.
structures
 Some- Will be able to evaluate
statistics and explain trends in
accurate detail
Starter:
Explain what is meant by the term ‘household’.
(2 marks)
Identify and describe two types of families or household that can
be found in Britain today.
(4 marks)
Starter
Work in pairs.
 Raise your hand when you know the type
of family

Nuclear family
A group of people who share a living
space, meals and bills, but are not
related to each other.
Household
Lone parent family
This is a person living alone, usually a
young adult or an elderly person.
Singleton
Extended family
This is an unmarried couple living
together with or without children.
Cohabiting family
Same sex family
This is another word for step families.
Reconstituted family
Empty nest family
If children can’t live with their
biological parents they are placed
with other adults deemed suitable
to take care of children.
Foster family
The exam
2 x 1.5 hours exams
 Three Topics in unit 1:
o Families
o Education
o Studying society
 Each Topic is made up of 7 questions – 01,
02, 03, 04, etc.
 Unit 1 is 50% of total Sociology GCSE.

Task 1
Work on your own.
 Look at the following bar graphs and
answer the questions.

Note: Please write in full sentences so you can revise properly
Nuclear families
5 mins
35%
1.
2.
What has been
the trend in
nuclear families
between 1971
and 2007?
By how many
percentage
points did the
number of
nuclear families
decline by
between 1971
and 2007?
Extension: What do you think are the reasons behind
the trend?
Note: Please write in full sentences so you can revise properly
Lone parent families
1.
2.
What has been
the overall
trend in lone
parent families
between 1971
and 2007?
By how many
percentage
points has the
number of lone
parent families
increased
between 1971
and 2007?
7 mins
3. What percent of families in 2007
consisted of lone parents?
Singletons
1.
2.
In 2007, were
there more single
people over the
state pension age
or under the
state pension
age?
By how many
percentage points
has the number
of singletons
increase between
1971 and 2007?
5 mins
Note: Please write in full sentences so
you can revise properly
Reconstituted families
1.
2.
5 mins
What percentage of reconstituted families are made up
of both partners’ children from previous relationships?
Who comprises most reconstituted families?
Task 2
1.
2.
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
3.
4.
5.
15 min
Work in pairs.
You’ll be given a type of family to research:
Nuclear families
Lone parent families
Same sex families
Reconstituted families
Cohabiting families
Singletons
Extended families
Households
Use the handout to find out about what is happening to
the trend in that type of family and at least two reasons for
the changes.
Create a flip chart presentation
You have 15 minutes.
Task 3
1.
2.
3.
15 min
Fill in the appropriate part of the
worksheet with the information from
your research.
Present your findings to the class.
Everyone else needs to take notes into
the worksheet.
Homework
A survey into family
types worksheet
Due next Tuesday
th
7 October
Plenary
Write one thing you have learnt today
 Write one question that you have about
today’s lesson.

Task 2
Paired work hand outs
Nuclear Family
The traditional nuclear family – a husband and wife in their
first marriage with their young dependent children.
Functionalist sociologists argue that nuclear families provide
the most stable form of primary socialisation for children
even though traditional nuclear families are on the decline.
The privatized nuclear family has become the most common
form of family in Britain, causing the idea of extended family
to disappear. The privatised nuclear family means that the
family unit becomes very insular and private and tends to
separate itself from extended family and the local
community. Family members are reliant on one another
within the family unit and leisure activities are centred
around the home and family.
Reasons for the decline in the nuclear family are said to be
linked to the lack of religious observance by many in Britain.
For example Roman Catholicism forbids divorce and only
allows it on grounds of adultery.
More couples are opting to live together outside of marriage
called ‘cohabiting.’
Peoples’ life cycles’ seem to take longer than in previous
years. This means that many people take longer to get
married, meaning they are likely to spend years living in
others forms of families before ‘settling down.’
What is happening?
The traditional nuclear family – a husband and
wife in their first marriage with their young
dependent children. Functionalist sociologists
argue that nuclear families provide the most
stable form of primary socialisation for children
even though traditional nuclear families are on
the decline.
The privatized nuclear family has become the
most common form of family in contemporary
Britain, causing the idea of extended family to
disappear. The privatised nuclear family means
that the family unit becomes very insular and
private and tends to separate itself from
extended family and the local community. Family
members are reliant on one another within the
family unit and leisure activities are centred
around the home and family.
Reasons for the decline in the nuclear family
are said to be linked to the lack of religious
observance by many in Britain. For example
Roman Catholicism forbids divorce and only
allows it on grounds of adultery.
More couples are opting to live together
outside of marriage called ‘cohabiting.’
Cohabiting
The decline of marriage and the growth of living together before
or outside marriage were two of the major social changes at the
time of the twenty-first century.
Cohabiting families consist of unmarried couples living together.
These types of families are on the rise.
By the early 2000s, the majority of people in first marriages had
lived with their partner beforehand; cohabitation is now the
norm rather than the exception. 7/10 couples married in 2000
gave identical addresses.
Sociologists argue that the increase is due to less emphasis being
put on marriage as an ‘absolute must.’ It has also said to be due
the fact that cohabitation is no longer deemed officially as
unacceptable or ‘living in sin’ which indicates a shift in society’s
norms and values.
People are happy to have children and not be married in far
greater numbers than ever before.
It’s important to note that non-marriage, with or without
children, isn’t always simply down to couples willingly ‘opting
out’.
Research shows that financially unstable couples are less likely
to marry, crucially not because they don’t want to but often
because they can’t achieve the ‘prerequisites’ such as a regular
income and owning a home.
Some of the reasons for the increase in this type of family are
due to:
•Changing role of women, growing economic independence
giving them more freedom to choose their relationships.
•Growing divorce rate and the message it's sending out to
potential marriage partners.
•Growing secularization (religious thinking, practice and
institutions lose social significance).
•Changing social attitudes and reduced social stigma: young
people are more likely to cohabit than older people, reflects
that older people are more likely to think living together outside
of marriage is always wrong, whereas more easy going attitudes
to cohabitation among the young, showing the reduced social
stigma attached to cohabitation.
•The greater availability of, and more affective, contraception.
•Higher expectations of marriage.
What is happening?
The decline of marriage and the growth of living together
before or outside marriage were two of the major social
changes at the time of the twenty-first century.
Cohabiting families consist of unmarried couples living
together. These types of families are on the rise.
By the early 2000s, the majority of people in first marriages
had lived with their partner beforehand, cohabitation is
now the norm rather than the exception. 7/10 couples
married in 2000 gave identical addresses.
Sociologists argue that the increase is due to less emphasis
being put on marriage as an ‘absolute must.’ It has also said
to be due the fact that cohabitation is no longer deemed
officially as unacceptable or ‘living in sin’ which indicates a
shift in society’s norms and values.
Same Sex Families
Sharp rise in number of cohabiting gay couples
The number of same-sex couples living together outside of a civil
partnership has increased by almost a third since last year, according to
figures published by the Office for National Statistics.
The number of gay and lesbian couples bringing up children has risen by eight
per cent since last year, according to research by the Office for National
Statistics.
Campaigners said the recorded increase in cohabiting same-sex couples
outside of civil partnerships indicated that gay partners were “more
comfortable” being open in official surveys about their living arrangements.
Richard Lane of Stonewall, the gay rights charity, said the shift could be down
to the effect of the Government’s move to introduce same-sex marriage.
Same sex partnerships are no longer seen as taboo as it would have
appeared in the 60’s and 70’s. This is argued to be due to a shift in general
norms and values in society by interactionist sociologists.
In 2012 there were 69,000 same-sex couples living together outside of a civil
partnership, whereas now there are 89,000.
What is happening?
Sharp rise in number of cohabiting gay couples
The number of same-sex couples living together outside of a civil partnership
has increased by almost a third since last year, according to figures published by
the Office for National Statistics.
The number of gay and lesbian couples bringing up children has risen by eight per
cent since last year, according to research by the Office for National Statistics.
Campaigners said the recorded increase in cohabiting same-sex couples outside
of civil partnerships indicated that gay partners were “more comfortable” being
open in official surveys about their living arrangements.
Richard Lane of Stonewall, the gay rights charity, said the shift could be down to
the effect of the Government’s move to introduce same-sex marriage.
Same sex partnerships are no longer seen as taboo as it would have appeared in
the 60’s and 70’s. This is argued to be due to a shift in general norms and values
in society by interactionist sociologists.
In 2012 there were 69,000 same-sex couples living together outside of a civil
partnership, whereas now there are 89,000.
Reconstituted Family
These are families with one or more step parents. Often times
they consist of couples with children from previous
relationships. Sometimes, it is only one partner with children
from prior relationships that meets with a single person
without children and moves in together.
This type of family is one the increase due to high divorce rate
and single parenthood.
•Step-famillies are the fastest growing family type.
•Just over 2/5 marriages now involve a remarriage for one or
both partners, reflecting the increase in divorce rate.
•More divorced men remarry than divorced women, reflecting
women's greater dissatisfaction or disillusionment with
marriage. Perhaps not surprising though, women have to
balance demands of paid employment, domestic labour and
childcare, and emotional "management" of the family.
•Step-fathers are more common than step-mothers, since most
children remain with the mother after a break up, around 9/10
step-families have at least one child from a previous relationship
of the woman. This reflects that it is nearly always the mother
who gets custody of the children in the event of a breakdown
of a relationship.
•1/6 men in their 30s are now step-fathers, raising other men's
children - nearly double the proportion in the mid-1990s.
•Official estimates suggest there are around 3/4 of a million
step-families with dependent children in the UK - 10% of all
families with dependent children.
What is happening?
These are families with one or more step parents. Often times
they consist of couples with children from previous
relationships. Sometimes, it is only one partner with children
from prior relationships that meets with a single person
without children and moves in together.
This type of family is one the increase due to high divorce rate
and single parenthood.
•Step-famillies are the fastest growing family type.
•Just over 2/5 marriages now involve a remarriage for one or
both partners, reflecting the increase in divorce rate.
•More divorced men remarry than divorced women, reflecting
women's greater dissatisfaction or disillusionment with
marriage. Perhaps not surprising though, women have to
balance demands of paid employment, domestic labour and
childcare, and emotional "management" of the family.
•Step-fathers are more common than step-mothers, since most
children remain with the mother after a break up, around 9/10
step-families have at least one child from a previous relationship
of the woman. This reflects that it is nearly always the mother
who gets custody of the children in the event of a breakdown
of a relationship.
•1/6 men in their 30s are now step-fathers, raising other men's
children - nearly double the proportion in the mid-1990s.
•Official estimates suggest there are around 3/4 of a million
step-families with dependent children in the UK - 10% of all
families with dependent children.
Extended Families
A group of relatives extending beyond the nuclear family. In the classic extended
family, three generations live together or nearby.
Young and Wilmott - argue that the main form of family used to be the classic
extended family, but from 1900's, there has been a transition to the privatized
nuclear family, where there are stronger bonds between couples, with the roles
in the relationship being more equal or symmetrical.
These are the 6 main reasons why there is thought to be a decline in extended
family:
1) The need for geographical mobility -the labour force needs to be mobile and
able to move around so relatives are left behind.
2) More social mobility in contemporary societies - people in modern society are
able to move up the social scales easier and have different jobs and lifestyles than
other family members so they have less in common.
3) Growth in people’s wealth - people are better off due to the development of
the welfare state, so nuclear members are less reliant on each other.
4) Growth in meritocracy - jobs requires more skills and education, whereas
before you got a job based on your social class and links you had with important
people. So now jobs are more about what you know than who you know so
family links are less important.
5) There is a need to avoid status differences causing conflict - peoples difference
in jobs, incomes and lifestyles cause conflict, so children may leave home and
break regular contact with their families to avoid these conflicts occurring.
6) Protect family stability by protecting bonds between couples - less contact and
support from extended family helps keep the nuclear family close and secure
because partners become dependent on one another.
What is happening?
A group of relatives extending beyond the nuclear
family. In the classic extended family, three
generations live together or nearby.
Young and Wilmott - argue that the main form of
family used to be the classic extended family, but
from 1900's, there has been a transition to the
privatized nuclear family, where there are stronger
bonds between couples, with the roles in the
relationship being more equal or symmetrical.
These are the 6 main reasons why there is thought
to be a decline in extended family:
1) The need for geographical mobility -the labour
force needs to be mobile and able to move around
so relatives are left behind.
2) More social mobility in contemporary societies
- people in modern society are able to move up
the social scales easier and have different jobs and
lifestyles than other family members so they have
less in common.
3) Growth in people’s wealth - people are better
off due to the development of the welfare state, so
nuclear members are less reliant on each other.
4) Growth in meritocracy - jobs requires more
skills and education, whereas before you got a job
based on your social class and links you had with
important people. So now jobs are more about
what you know than who you know so family links
are less important.
5) There is a need to avoid status differences
causing conflict - peoples difference in jobs,
incomes and lifestyles cause conflict, so children
may leave home and break regular contact with
their families to avoid these conflicts occurring.
6) Protect family stability by protecting bonds
between couples - less contact and support from
extended family helps keep the nuclear family close
and secure because partners become dependent
on one another.
Lone Parent
One of the biggest changes in the family has been the growth of the lone
parent family ( single parent or one-parent family).
•The percentage of lone parent families has tripled since 1971, Britain has
one of the highest proportions of lone parent families in Europe.
•More than 1/4 families with dependent children were lone parents in 2005 9/10 headed by women.
•Nearly 1/4 (23%) of dependent children now live such families, compared to
just 7% in 1972.
Why are there more lone parent families?
•The greater economic independence of women: through more job
opportunities and support from the welfare state. Support by a husband is
less of an economic necessity compared to the past.
•Improved contraception, changing male attitudes, and fewer "shotgun
weddings"
Wider availability and approval of safe and effective contraception, and easier
access to safe and legal abortion, men may feel less responsibility to marry
women, and women less pressured to marry the future father, should she
become unintentionally pregnant.
Changing social attitudes: There's less social stigma attached to lone
parenthood today. Women are therefore less afraid of the social
consequences of becoming lone parents.
What is happening?
One of the biggest changes in the family has been the growth of the lone parent family (single parent or
one-parent family).
•The percentage of lone parent families has tripled since 1971, Britain has one of the highest proportions
of lone parent families in Europe.
•More than 1/4 families with dependent children were lone parents in 2005 - 9/10 headed by women.
•Nearly 1/4 (23%) of dependent children now live such families, compared to just 7% in 1972.
Why are there more lone parent families?
•The greater economic independence of women: through more job opportunities and support from the
welfare state. Support by a husband is less of an economic necessity compared to the past.
•Improved contraception, changing male attitudes, and fewer "shotgun weddings"
Wider availability and approval of safe and effective contraception, and easier access to safe and legal
abortion, men may feel less responsibility to marry women, and women less pressured to marry the
future father, should she become unintentionally pregnant.
Changing social attitudes: There's less social stigma attached to lone parenthood today. Women are
therefore less afraid of the social consequences of becoming lone parents.
Singletons
Growth in 'singlehood' - living alone
In 1901, one in twenty households contained only one
person, whereas, today, around one in three households
contain a single person. In 1971, two thirds of people in
single households were over pensionable age but now only
half are over pensionable age (60 for women and 65 for
men). This shows there is a growth in the number of young
people living alone.
Reasons for this are the decline in marriage, the rise in
divorce and separation and the fact that people are delaying
marriage or cohabitation until they are older. There are
nearly twice as many men as women, aged 25-44, living alone
but twice as many women as men, aged over 65, living alone,
because women have a higher life expectancy.
What is happening?
Growth in 'singlehood' - living alone
In 1901, one in twenty households contained only one person, whereas,
today, around one in three households contain a single person. In 1971, two
thirds of people in single households were over pensionable age but now
only half are over pensionable age (60 for women and 65 for men). This
shows there is a growth in the number of young people living alone.
Reasons for this are the decline in marriage, the rise in divorce and
separation and the fact that people are delaying marriage or cohabitation
until they are older. There are nearly twice as many men as women, aged 2544, living alone but twice as many women as men, aged over 65, living alone,
because women have a higher life expectancy.
Households
At its simplest a household is one person living alone
or a group of people who share living arrangements
at the same address for example a group of
university students.
In 2011, there were 23.4 million households (which
exclude communal establishments, such as care
homes, university halls of residence and prisons etc)
in England and Wales, with an average of 2.4
residents per household. There were 55.1 million
people in these households, made up of 44.5 million
adults and 10.5 million children.
This type of living arrangement stems from many
young people living as students or in shared
accommodation as a means to survive increasing city
costs.
What is happening?
At its simplest a household is one person living alone or a group of
people who share living arrangements at the same address for example
a group of university students.
In 2011, there were 23.4 million households (which exclude communal
establishments, such as care homes, university halls of residence and
prisons etc) in England and Wales, with an average of 2.4 residents per
household. There were 55.1 million people in these households, made
up of 44.5 million adults and 10.5 million children.
This type of living arrangement stems from many young people living
as students or in shared accommodation as a means to survive
increasing city costs.