www.curriculum-press.co.uk Number 178

SociologyFactsheet

New Research on the FamilyThe family has changed in many ways over recent decades and there has been a lot of research which shows these changes.

This Factsheet will look at recent research on the family that reflects the changes that have occurred within the family structure in the UK.The information in this Factsheet is useful for answering questions on families and households but may be used in other areas, e.g. research methods.What people see as a family, and indeed how they structure their personal lives, has become much more fluid and unpredictable.

Over the last 50 years there has been a rise in:• Single parent families,• Single person households,• Cohabiting couples,• Civil partnerships,• Gay marriages,• Blended/reconstituted families.

All these types of families show that family life is very different today. This is known as family diversity.

ActivityList the reasons why there is family diversity in Britain today.

A lot of research has been done over the years to reflect the changes in family structure, for example: Willmott and Young, Rapoport and Rapoport, Ann Oakley, Pater Laslett, and Michael Anderson.

Researchers Summary of researchRapoport and Rapoport They argued that the nuclear family was no longer the main family type, and that a range of other family types

and households existed and were growing in size.Rapoport and Rapoport identified five types of family diversity:• Organisational diversity• Cultural diversity• Social class diversity• Life cycle diversity• Family life course diversity

Willmott and Young

Ann Oakley

Peter Laslett

Michael Anderson

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Families have changed dramatically in recent years; as well as the research above, there has been a lot of research on modern family diversity in Britain today.

Exam Hint: As society evolves, sociology can become outdated. It is important that you are aware of the up-to-date research as this shows that you understand how society has changed over time.

This Factsheet will focus on two changes to modern family living and will look at recent research to support these changes:1. Living apart together (LATs)2. The sociology of personal life

Living Apart Together (LATs)Duncan and Phillips conducted research on LATs – living apart together.• A number of people are in stable relationships but do not live

together.• Over a fifth of those classified as ‘single’ are actually in a

relationship but not living with their partner.

This study was conducted in 2011-12 and used three methods in order to gain a thorough understanding of living apart relationships.1. A quantitative representative national survey of 572 people in

LAT relationships, which focussed on their attitudes, socialcharacteristics, and how they organised their relationships.

2. Qualitative semi-structured interviews with 50 people in LATrelationships in which they were asked about their experiences,beliefs, understandings, and everyday relationships in more detail.

ActivityCopy the table below and summarise what these researchers did and what they found from their research.Add some more researchers that you are familiar with.

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3. Psychosocial biographical interviews with 16 people who arein LAT relationships, which explored their life and relationshiphistories, and looked in detail at their LAT relationship.

ActivityWhat are the strengths and limitations of using these research methods?Explain why they used several research methods for this investigation.

Exam Hint: This is good evidence to use when answering questions on research methods. Referring to research methods of specific studies will show knowledge and understanding, not only on the family but also on research methods.

Findings of this ResearchSocial ClassThey found that people in LAT relationships are broadly spread in terms of social class:• 29% of LATs in survey were in managerial and professional

occupations,• 20% in intermediate occupations,• 41% in were in routine/manual occupations or were unemployed.

AgePeople of all age groups are living apart together, but the majorityof LATs are young: 43% of our sample was aged 16–24. However,33% were aged 25–44, and 11% were 55 or over.

EthnicityThe number of LATs reflected the different groups within society.

Length of Relationship• 19% had been in a relationship for less than 6 months,• 24% had been in a relationship for up to 17 months,• 22% had been in a relationship for 3 – 5 years,• 19% had been in a relationship for 6 or more years.

ActivityWhy do you think partners are in a relationship but don’t live together?Make a list of the possible reasons and then compare your list with other students.

Why Do People Live Apart Together?People have many different reasons for living apart.When asked the main reason why they did not live with their partner, the survey respondents can be divided into four groups:1. Too early: 31% said that it was too early/they were

not ready to cohabit.2. Preference: 30% expressed a preference for not

living together, including wanting to keep their ownhomes and prioritizing other commitments.

3. Constraints: 19% said they couldn’t afford to live together.4. Situational: 12% said their partner had a job or was studying

elsewhere or was living in an institution, e.g. prison. Only 8%were living apart for work reasons, and only 3% were waiting toget married.

Analysis of the psychosocial interviews allowed more detail to be given for why partners lived apart. These included:• A way of trying to protect themselves from further emotional pain,• Trying to protect others, particularly children,• Needing their own time and space.

ConclusionsLiving apart together is found amongst all sorts of people in Britain today. It seems to provide the intimacy required by couples with the demands of contemporary life. LAT is not necessarily a permanent state and many LATs will go on to cohabit and marry.

Living apart together is a common relationship within Britain today but it is ignored by the Census and most social, family, and household surveys. Most people who are in living apart together relationships are seen as single by most administrative bodies.

ActivityDo you think this type of relationship should be legally recognised as a relationship or not? Look at both sides of this argument.

The Sociology of Personal LifeThe sociology of personal life provides a way of explaining the diversity of families, households, and relationships we find in society today.Carol Smart was particularly interested in this aspect of family life

She argues that people have more freedom to construct their own families and decide on their own family relationships in society today. However, she believes that this is not done in isolation from the traditions and norms of the family that are provided by society. She believes that the choices people make are a result of their own personal experiences or family history as well as the expectations of the society they live in. She also believes that factors such as social class, ethnicity and gender plays a part in these decisions.

Example: spending time living in different foster homes will clearly influence a person’s attitude to family life. They may want the type of family they have never had; however, their adult family life may be unstable due to their childhood experiences.

This shows that the development of families is not fully based on freedom of choice and is not wholly determined by society. The personal life approach puts forward the idea that families are constructed through choices, but these choices are made within a social context.

The sociology of personal life does not only relate to family relationships. It can be applied to all meaningful relationships people may have, e.g. a friend may be more like a brother or sister to them, or a personal relationship with God can also be influential.

ActivityThink about all the meaningful relationships you have in your life.Think about each person and the impact they have on your life.Think about how this relationship may impact on the personal relationship or the family you may choose to have when you are older.

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178. New Research on the Family

These two pieces of research are important to show how family life and relationships have changed over recent years.

How Do They Fit into Theories of the Family?Structural TheoriesFunctionalists believe that the family preforms important functions for society and for individuals. Murdock and Parsons (functionalists) believe that the family is important for social stability and for socialising individuals.

Marxists believe that the family supports capitalist society by producing the next generation of workers for capitalist society.

Feminists believe that women are exploited within the family because they are expected to fulfil many of the jobs that a family unit needs to perform.

Postmodernists believe that individuals have choices on how they live, and family diversity gives people lots of choices. People can live in whatever type of family they choose because many different types of family are accepted in society today.

ActivityMake sure you know the key aspects of all four of these approaches.What do they say about family diversity?

Complete a table similar to the one below showing the key aspects of each of these approaches:

The Sociology of personal life sits in between the structuralist approaches of the functionalist, Marxist, feminist, and postmodernist view. They recognise both external (structural) influences and individual choice when choosing family and relationships.

ActivityThink about how LATs fit into these theories?

Exam Hint: Using one example, briefly explain how individuals may have significant personal relationships besides those relationships with family members.

There are many possible answers to this questions:People have a personal relationship with God where they seek moral guidance and advice.People have a pet where they have a ‘special’ relationship and receive comfort from the pet.

Functionalists Marxists Feminists Postmodernists

Acknowledgements: This Sociology Factsheet was researched and written by Rosie Owens and published in April 2017 by Curriculum Press. Sociology Factsheets may be copied free of charge by teaching staff or students, provided that their school is a registered subscriber. No part of these Factsheets may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any other form or by any other means, without the prior permission of the publisher. ISSN 1351-5136