Hi Laura Case Study

Using material from Item A and elsewhere assess sociological explanations of the nature and extent of family diversity today.

Family and society have come across many changes during our history. Every change that occurred has affected what many people would call the "Benchmark Family" (Scanzoni #7). This is considered the perfect family or the norm. The Family would consist of the husband that is the breadwinner and the wife who is responsible for raising the children, and taking care of the home (Scanzoni #4). Society has changed dramatically from the 19th century. These changes in turn have affected Family. Many factors through the years have been responsible for these changes. Feminism is a tremendous factor that is still having its effect on family and society today. Another factor is employment. Women in the workplace have changed family structure

It is my belief that recognizing any family structure or definition is important, as the traditional version may be skewed in so many ways, without knowing or recognizing the “family” that people we run across may come from. We can also learn from other family definitions to build upon our own themes, rules, and beliefs. Adding stigma and prejudice toward families different from our own not only alienate the members, but can add unnecessary stress upon that family system. Stress in any family system can be seen as either an adaptation potential or a negative force. Many effects on the

The configuration of a family is always fluctuating and deviates from culture to culture. The roles and behavior in a Hispanic family may strongly differ from a Caucasian family, and a Caucasian family from a Chinese family. Regardless of the culture to which a family belongs, every culture has had or currently has stereotypes, such as gender roles. In the mid 1900’s, an “ideal” Caucasian American family would have had a wife who remains home throughout the day and takes care of the house, a working father, and two to three children. The father would have the final word on everything; in other words he would possess ultimate authority, with the mother and children not getting much say in any decisions. In the recent decades, however, women have secured jobs, most men share authority with the mother, and parents listen to their children. Today, gender roles are slowly receding, children have the opportunity to decide their future, and parents are becoming more lenient with their children.

Overall, in society's class lifestyle also affects how children are raised for example, a working class person is more likely to raise their child to be working class and middle class children are more likely to be raised to be middle class. For example, including being a doctor or even being a criminal the status, then determines a set of behaviors and expectations for the individuals. Different profession, those in the upper middle class are restricted to live by a means which is considered by all else to never lower their prestige to that of the commoners and middle class go forth and fulfill their ambition of entering a life style that is structured around them in their occupations.

The make-up and concept of what was once considered a traditional nuclear family is quickly disappearing (Timmerman, 2013). According to Jojic, Raj, Wilkins, Treadwell, Caussade-Rodriguez, & Blum (2012), “Traditional family roles have changed, and the conception of what Americans consider a ‘ family ’ has likewise shifted with differing societal views regarding gender, gender roles, race, and ethnicity” (p. 128). To accompany the changes being made to the customary view of family dynamics, the family environment has become an influential psychological aspect of this change (Kwiatkowski, 2010). As evidence continues to expand regarding all of the changes that have occurred, exact reasons regarding the changes are as abundant as the explanations described in the data.

The ideal family has changed considerably throughout time changing attitudes towards gender and roles and expectations, as well as Society 's is gradual acceptance of homosexuality has seen radical changes in what is considered an ideal family. Shifting views in what is considered an ideal family shows the family is a form of ideology rather than simply a descriptive concept.

Sociology looks at stratification in society as a way to measure a person place within an economical class. Disparity within the norms of wealth and income is an important part of the stratification process because of the effects that is has on a person's behavior. There is no better predictor of an individual person's behavior than that of their class position. An individual's class position is solely based on their economical level within society. People of a less economical level are subject to hardship as opposed to those of a higher economical position where their lives are better built and protected through wealth. A person's social class will tell you more about a person's behavior and attitude than any other single piece of information.

The third article is by Murali (2004). This article looks into poverty at a deeper level and explores how it directly and indirectly affects mental health. It looks at it in the context of the growing inequality between the classes. This article mainly focuses on the children and how their social class shapes their mental health. It is important to look at how it affects children, because the children as they grow can either accept it or work hard to change it. It is hard to see upward mobility from the parents class. It is possible but usually there is only a one-class change. Focusing on how class affect children can help create treatments to help the child better coup with life as an adult. It also looks into how they plan to reduce inequality both nationally and internationally (Murali, 2004). This is important to look at because it can help explain the differences in mental health between the social classes.

We all have a family, but we all have grown up in a different way. Social class plays a huge role in family life. Three of the connections between social class and family include kin, child rearing, and education levels.

Our social class or the way we act tend to affect the ways in which we are treated by teachers; by the police; by friends; by employers; by sexual partners; and by many others in society. When people treat others differently cause of their class, this is form of a personal discrimination or stereotyping and is done without getting to know a person first. It can also take the form of structural discrimination as explained by D, HILL “Taking place on a systematic, repetitive, embedded nature within particular social structures such as schooling, housing, employment, credit agencies.” (Hill, 2016) Social class is argued to influence a child or a young person education because the people who are in a lower social status are not able to afford private education. Private education is thought to be better for a child, as it has far fewer pupils in each class compared to local authority schools. Higher education is also harder for a child that is not from a higher social status family, as poorer families that need the extra money or have seen their child benefits cut due to the child reaching the age of 18 tend to feel pushed to go from education straight to paid work. “There were 3.9 million children living in poverty in the UK in 2014-15, that’s 9 children in a classroom of 30.” (2016, 2000) Or they do not do as well in higher education because to afford to live, they still need to earn money while studying. Higher education is the key path to a better paid occupation and if not able to attend due to worries like money, childcare or your school test results it will be a lot harder to find above minimum wage

Economic status affects the quality of life of the family, such as a lifestyle and a family relationship. When parents have a financial problem, they are distressed and cannot have a quality time with children. For example, a low-income status parents have arguments and fight over their financial problems which cause distress such as a depression and an anxiety; in addition, parents have unstable relationship and become impatient or uninvolved for their children. Importantly, parents are the most influential agent of the socialization of children. Therefore, the economic status of parents indirectly affects on the quality of life of children.

Social classes play a vital role in dynamic of families. The definition of social class is ambiguous and has no clearly outlined definition. However it is believed to be a combination of different aspects such as one’s life chances or resources, one’s status group, or those who share similar lifestyles and one’s education level make up an individuals social class. Therefore, in an ideal set up there would 4 social cases the upper, middle, working, and poor classes (Judge 2015) and these are the 4 that I will be using to distinguish the difference in how parents raise their children across social classes. One main influence that causes a polarization of social classes are parents economic resources and education level, thus influencing the jobs parents have and the availability they may have to invest in their child’s life. However the key characteristics that influence the ways parent raise their children are how they organize their child’s daily life, the use of language around their children, and through social interactions (Lareau 202). However the two main approaches across social class parents take in raising their child are natural growth and concerted cultivation.

Another participant added, that social class hierarchy is a factor, because those of wealthier backgrounds have more opportunities to allow their youth to participate in society. The wealthy families look down on the poorer ones, therefore, for social

Social class can also have an effect on education. The education is affected by the children not being able to attend school or even college, when they begin to grow up into the young adult stage. Although, within high school many people tend to not have clothing so they can come to school. That can affect the child’s self-esteem, when the other child has options on what to wear. Social class also limits the chances of being successful in school and in the future. If you do not have the money or help to receive the materials you need, then you cannot be successful. Within Warrenton there are not a lot of resources that can help you be successful, sometimes you would have to go out of the way to receive the help you need. In Warrenton,