Organsational diversity

**Organizational diversity** is a type of family diversity focusing on the structural differences between families. This includes the conjugal role of family members and the way family members are organized within the family structure.

## Different family types

### The "conventional" nuclear family

The nuclear family, according to functionalist definition, contains a married heterosexual couple with dependant children. This is the basis on which organizational diversity is compared to.

♂Father ------ ♀Mother

♂♂♀♀ Children

### Extended family

A family type which "attaches" relatives to the nuclear family; this includes grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins. An extended family can often form overlapping nuclear families.

♂Grandfather ------ ♀Grandmother

♂Uncle ♂Father ------ ♀Mother ♀Aunt

♂♂♀♀ Children ♂♂♀♀ Cousins

### Gay/Lesbian family

A family type featuring a couple of the same sex.

♂♂ OR ♀♀ (♂/♀ Surrogate father/mother)

(♂♂♀♀ Children)

### Reconstituted family

A family type where at least one of the couples have been divorced before; this family type most commonly features step-fathers and step-mothers.

♂Father ----------------------♀Stepmother

♂♂♀♀ Children

### Single parent family

A family type featuring a single parent with dependant children; these families most commonly result out of divorce and the death of a spouse. In the case of divorce, usually the dependant children goes to the mother.

♀Mother

♂♂♀♀ Children

### Empty nest family

A family with a couple and independant children; the couple and their children live separately.

♀Mother ------ ♂Father

### Singleton

A family type that contains one person living by themselves.

♂Forever alone

### Cohabitation

Two unmarried individuals living together; may or may not include children.

♀Female ---(not married)--- ♂Male

(♂♂♀♀ Children)

### DINKI family (Dual Income No Kids)

A family type which features a couple both taking paid work outside home, without children.

♀Mother ------ ♂Father

### Beanpole family

A family type featuring multiple generations but few people in each generation, making the structure of the family "thin"; this type of family was popularized due to reduced birth rates in different countries.

♂Grandfather ------ ♀Grandmother

♀Mother ------ ♂Father

♀ Child

The "4-2-1" family in China is an example of this, featuring only one child born with each couple.

## Reasons for family diversity

Sociologists have identified various reasons for the increase in family diversity:

**Secularization** (the loss of religion): The decreasing tendency of believing in a religion has lead to a reduced amount of **social stigma** attached to "unconventional" family types (such as the gay/lesbian family) and divorce, increasing single parent families. (Statistics: in 2010 60% of
British citizens identified themselves as religious according to the **ONS**; this number declined to 30% in
2015 according to **The Guardian**.)

Increasing social and economic independence: A general trend in the increasing education levels of individuals, especially amongst females, has led to a general decline in marriage and childbirth in favour of the pursuit of careers, increasing the amount of single households and DINKI families. (Statistics: in the start of the 20th century an average of 3 children were born in each family; this figure had dropped to 1.6 in the 21st century.)

## Related sociologists

**Hughes (2009):** average age of first marriage for
women was 23 in 1977 and increased to 29 in 2007. In many industrial societies there is an aging population, affecting
marriage statistics.

**Oswald (2002):** increased female financial career
and personal independence makes them less likely to enter relationships that
restricts their ability to work and develop a career.

**Hughes and Church:** 10% of families with dependent
children were never married mothers in 2011, compared to only 1% in 1971.

**Beck (1992):** people in postmodern societies
increasingly assess likely risks and consequences of their actions-avoidance of
risk by not marrying.

**Smart and Stevens (2000)**: Cohabitation represents a trial
marriage with less risk.

**Rapoport and Rapoport (1969):** Women
in dual-career
families are increasingly unwilling to have children, prioritizing their careers.
They also think that parenthoold would disrupt their lives.

**Tiffen and Gittins (2004):** women less likely to accept
personal and social identities built around home and motherhood.

**Graham:** There
is less need for
children as a protection against old age and illness.

**Chester**: There's a shift from traditional nuclear family to neo-conventional families/dual-earner families, but family diversity and its impact on society has been exaggerated.

**Giddens**: family diversity is the results of people having more choice and freedom in the postmodern society, especially since women now have greater opportunities in education as well as workplace.