Family Diversity

One of the most significant sociological debates about the family concerns the extent to which family life has become more diverse. Has the traditional nuclear family been replaced by a wide range of alternative family forms, or does it remain the dominant structure? This lesson explores the key positions in this debate, which is central to AQA A-Level Sociology (7192).

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The Rapoport and Rapoport Model (1982)

Robert and Rhona Rapoport (1982) were among the first sociologists to argue that family diversity had become the norm in Britain. They rejected the idea that there is a single "normal" family type and identified five types of diversity: