1.2 Postmodernists on The Family

Question 1

(Postmodernism) what has happened to family structures in postmodern society?

Answer 1

They have fragmented

Question 2

(Postmodernism) individuals have much more what?

Answer 2

Choice over lifestyle and family

Question 3

(Postmodernism) postmodernists identify that there is no longer one what?

Answer 3

Dominant family type but there is greater family diversity

Question 4

(Postmodernism) Giddens and Beck refer to late modernity which is less influenced by what?

Answer 4

Tradition
Duty
Social norms

Question 5

(Postmodernism) Giddens argues in recent decades family and marriage have been transformed by what?

Answer 5

Greater choice

More equal relationships

Question 6

(Postmodernism) Giddens - transformation of the family has occurred because of what?

Answer 6

Contraception

Women’s independence

Question 7

(Postmodernism) Giddens - couples can define their relationship themselves rather than doing what?

Answer 7

Acting out roles defined in advance

Question 8

(Postmodernism) Giddens e.g couples can choose to do what?

What does he call this?

Answer 8

Cohabit
Not have children
The pure relationship

Question 9

(Postmodernism) Giddens say couples stay together due to love, happiness or attraction rather than what?

Answer 9

Sense of duty

Sake of children

Question 10

(Postmodernism) Giddens - what is confluent love?

Answer 10

Love based on emotional intimacy but individuals only remain as long as they are happy and emotional love fulfilled

Question 11

(Postmodernism) Giddens - with more choice what has happened to personal relationships?

Answer 11

More unstable

Question 12

(Postmodernism) beck & beck g - what is individualisation?

Answer 12

Seeking self interests

Less pressure to conform to the traditions

Question 13

(Postmodernism) beck & beck g - what do we have a greater range of?

Answer 13

Choices over lifestyle

Question 14

(Postmodernism) beck & beck g - why is there more potential for conflict?

Answer 14

Clash of self interests encouraged by individualisation

Question 15

(Postmodernism) beck - we live in what type of society?

Answer 15

A risk society

Question 16

(Postmodernism) beck - what does choice involve?

Answer 16

Risk

Question 17

(Postmodernism) beck - due to individualism people’s actions are more influenced by calculation of what?

Answer 17

Own self interests

Question 18

(Postmodernism) beck - people avoid risks give examples:

Answer 18

Choosing to cohabit rather than marry due to risk of divorce

Question 19

(Postmodernism) beck - what is the negotiated family?

Answer 19

Don’t conform to traditional norm but instead the wishes and expectations do their members

Question 20

(Postmodernism) beck - the negotiated family is more equal that what?

Answer 20

The patriarchal family

Question 21

(Postmodernism) beck - why is the negotiated family more unstable?

Answer 21

Members are free to leave if there needs are not met

Question 22

(Postmodernism) who did Stacey study?

Answer 22

Families in California

Question 23

(Postmodernism) what does Stacey say has developed in the USA?

Answer 23

Postmodern family

Question 24

(Postmodernism) what did Stacey find about the families she studied?

Answer 24

The varied in structure
Constantly changed
No ‘ideal’ structure

Question 25

(Postmodernism) why can Stacey’s study be criticised?

Answer 25

Small sample

Exaggerated degree of fluidity and uncertainty

Question 26

(Postmodernism) postmodernists can be criticised for ignoring continuities in what?

Answer 26

Continuities in family life

Even though there is greater diversity two parent families remain the norm

Question 27

(Postmodernism) postmodernists can be criticised for ignoring social structures such as what?

Answer 27

Class
Gender
Ethnicity

Question 28

(Postmodernism) neglecting social structures - what did Taylor study and find?

Answer 28

Working class lesbians
Class affected then and they found it more difficult to negotiate with professionals over their children

Question 29

(Postmodernism) the idea of individualism is more applicable to who?

Answer 29

White people than ethnic minorities

Question 30

(Postmodernism) ethnicity - what did chapman say about Asian families?

Answer 30

They tend for hold to traditional values but some of their practices are not accepted e.g polygamy

Question 31

(Postmodernism) why do feminists criticise postmodernists?

Answer 31

Ignore patriarchal aspects of family life