Some sociologists argue that there is no “normal” family, but instead a

broad diversity of family and household forms in the UK today.

There are a number of reasons for this increased diversity, including:

• Late modernist Anthony Giddens (1992) argues that greater gender
equality has led to significant changes in the nature of family life.
Relationships are now categorised by freedom – people are free to
enter into relationships on their own terms rather than bound by
tradition or family expectations
• A consequence of this is that people seek a pure relationship: if a
relationship is not meeting their expectations then they are also at
liberty to end it and seek one that is more fulfilling. Furthermore,
relationships have become increasingly about the self: people’s self-
identity is explored through relationships.
• All of this combines to suggest that people are less likely to get
married young and stay together for their whole lives and instead are
likely to experience serial monogamy. That is, be part of several
partnerships throughout their life course, rather than just one. While
in previous eras it was not unusual for people to marry their
“childhood sweetheart” it is now very unusual for people in a
relationship at 18 to remain in the same relationship for life. While
this represents greater choice and freedom, it is also characterised by
instability.