Discuss Changing Family Structures in the Uk and Give Examples of Sociological Theories That Provide Explanations as to Why and How Families Have Changed.

discourse changing family social organisations in the UK and give examples of sociological theories that provide explanations as to why and how families let changed. This essay give discuss the various family structures in society. It will give theoretical explanation as to why and how families look at changed. The essay will also bring statistical, historical and political evidence to back up the con be for these changes. During the pre-industrial society the extended family was the most common family structure.This family structure involves three generations including the parents, children and either the grandparents (vertical-extended) or uncles and aunts (horizontally-extended). The extended family structure was essential for this society as families were a unit of production so they needed as many an(prenominal) a(prenominal) workers as they could get. Michael Anderson (1971) argued that in critical life situations in that location was a dependence on the extended famil y for dish and support. Then Parsons (1949) said large families were economically beneficial, so the extended family was the most suited structure.However, during in the industrial rotary motion family life changed. It was no vaster seen as a unit of production but immediately a unit of consumption. The thermonuclear family emerged and became the main family structure. However, the extended family may become popular once much as in our current society people are living longer and state funding on residential care has ebbd so this has shifted the care and responsibility onto the family. Also, there has been an increase in Multi-generational families. The earlier age of child-bearing reducing the age gap between generations (Fulcher and Scott, 2011 446)The nuclear family consisted of two generations, the mother, father and their children. Parsons (1949) argued that industrialisation resulted in a shift from the extended family to the nuclear family, as its char molderistics ar e more typical for a capitalist society. Parsons (1956) believed that you must move where there is work and that you should provided take your immediate family with you not every champion. This is why nuclear families were more beneficial as it was easier to move for work with just your immediate amily. With the industrial revolution and the growth of capitalism, production was no longer carried out by family members, but by workers. Public policies were sic in place during 1940-1970 such(prenominal) as the welfare state, which was designed to support family roles (breadwinner and caring mother). Since then there has been significant changes in public policies such as the divorce reform act (1967), the abortion act (1967), the equal pay act (1970), the sex discrimination act (1975) and maternity leave was introduced.This gave women more granting immunity and more opportunities especially within employment and lifestyle choices. This lead to social change postponement of marriage and childbearing, the number of divorces in England and Wales increased from 6,000 in 1938 to more than 48,000 in 1968, and in 1960 the fertility rate was 2. 72%, dropping to 1. 93% in 1998. Due to these rapid increases in divorce cohabitation has become more preferred for couples as there are no legal ties, the couple can see how it goes before devising any major decisions such as marriage.Also couples may marry later as weddings are costly and they dont have the money to afford one due to the recession, however living with individually other saves money. This was the democratic and educational revolution and the era of the nuclear family. However, with impertinently policies in place and such major social change, from the 1970s onwards it became the post-industrial society and the rise of post-modernism. This society brought new family structures, and units that were previously comprehend as unacceptable became acceptable.Since the divorce reform act (1967) divorces have ra pidly increased resulting in many re-marriages, introducing the reconstituted family unit. This family includes children that live with one biological parent and a step-parent. These families may also include step/ fractional brothers and sisters. Divorce has also meant there are many more single-parent families. This is a family structure where only one parent takes care of the children. This can be due to birth outside of marriage, divorce and death or imprisonment of a partner.Murray (1990) would argue that the rise in single parent families is due to the underclass and unparented families. Boys without fathers are inadequately socialised and dont have a male role model. When they have their own children they wont have an understanding of a dad role, so this may result in them being absent in the childs life and legal separation from the wife/partner. Marx (1848) would argue that the equipment failure of marriage is due to the conflict that the capitalist society is creating a nd this is affecting relationships.Feminist, Delphy (1977) argues that the exploitation of womens labour is root in the domestic mode of production within the household, not in the capitalist mode of production. custody hold a superior position within the domestic mode of production and exploit women done marriage (Fulcher and Scott, 2011 435). This exploitation could create conflict and domestic violence may occur resulting in separation/divorce. Lastly, some individuals blame single-parent families on the permissiveness of the sexual revolution.Jeffrey Weeks (1989) believes that post-war changes in capitalism has led to a new pleasure-seeking attitude in females, which resulted in sexual behaviour as a source of pleasure rather a means of producing children. This can relate to why there are so many single-parent families headed by women from births outside marriage. Finally the most recent type of family structure is same sex families. This involves a transgendered couple (gay or lesbian) that take care of children. This is the newest family unit as the polished partnership law was only passed in 2004.Since then 45,000 have been formed up until 2010. Homosexual couples have been apparent for a long time however only recently have the attitudes towards them become more acceptable resulting in the civil partnership law. Beck (1992) says this is because of individualisation people are designing their lives based on their own choice not expectations. Also, people have very different attitudes now to previously in history, so homosexuality is more widely accepted. In conclusion, family structures are constantly changing and there is never only one type.Family structures tend to base around suiting the type of society there in. Policies can increase or decrease certain family structures. For example the divorce reform act (1967) increased single parent and reconstituted families and decreased the nuclear family. Also new family structures, same sex families h ave been introduced because of policies and change in attitudes. There may be new family structures in the future as society progresses. References- Fulcher, J. and Scott, J. (2011) Sociology. Oxford Oxford University Press.