2.6 postmodernism and individulisation

Question 1

what are the two key characteristics of postmodernism society?

Answer 1

1. Diversity and fragmentation
2. Rapid social change

Question 2

Which sociologist created the individulisation thesis?

Answer 2

Chambers- argued traditional relationships, roles and beliefs have lost their influence over the individual.

Question 3

What do Lyotard (1984) and Baudrillard (2001) believe?

Answer 3

That modernity ended in the late 20th century. Contemporary society is rapidly changing and full of uncertainties.

Question 4

What do Beck-Gernsheim (2002) and Stacey (1996) argue the traditional nuclear family is being replaced with?

Answer 4

By a wide diversity of relationships in which people are choosing to live.

Question 5

What are some consequences that occur in the decline of nuclear families?

Answer 5

• decline in family size and marriage rates.
• rising divorce rates.
• growing lone parenthood.
• individuals living alone.
• shared households.

Question 6

Why are policy makers and politicians worried about the changes in family size?

Answer 6

-Support networks are weakened.
- Individuals face growing insecurity, uncertainty.

Question 7

However, how do postmodernists feel about the changes in family size?

Answer 7

• see changes as simply reflecting individuals making their consumer choices.

Question 8

Which key sociologist advocates the approach of the life course analysis? And what does this mean?

Answer 8

Hareven (1978) - this approach recognises that there is flexibility and variation in people’s lives.

Question 9

Which key sociologist believes that postmodern families have been developed?

Answer 9

Stacey (1998) - argues that women have more freedom than ever before to shape their family arrangement to meet their needs. “The Divorce-Extended Family”

Question 10

Whats Pam and Dotty’s story?

Answer 10

They both got married to manual worker men who neither were bringing in enough money, so Pam and Dotty had to work small jobs. Both ended up leaving them and Dotty’s was abusive. Pam got remarried and got a degree. Dotty took her husband back but only after he had a heart attack so he couldn’t abuse her. Dotty got involved with political campaigns then formed a household with her one remaining daughter who was a single mother. Pam pursed her career working for social services.

Question 11

Difference between late modernists and postmodernists ?

Answer 11

-people are not as free as postmodernists suggest.
- less likely because of structural changes.
- gender quality means that both partners have to work.

Question 12

What does Giddens propose?

Answer 12

• ‘pure relationships’ : one which lasts only as both partners are happy with it.
• downside is that Giddens notes that with more choice personal relationships inevitably become less stable.

Question 13

3 characteristics Giddens argues relationships are now charactersied?

Answer 13

1. Marriage and family has changed into one.
2. ‘pure relationships’.
3. Relationships become part of the process of self discovery.

Question 14

What does Beck argue?

Answer 14

• That we now live in a ‘risk society’ where traditions has less influence.
• He suggest that the decline in marriages is because of the increase of ‘risk consciousness’

Question 15

What does reflexive mean?

Answer 15

People look at society and see the risk of marriage, then choose not to get married.

Question 16

What has patriarchal family been undermined by?

Answer 16

Greater gender equality + greater individualism.

Question 17

evaluations of the individualisation thesis:

Answer 17

1. Freedom doesn’t come without restriction.
2. Traditional norms haven’t weakened as much as the theory states.
3. It ignores issues which stop people from changing themselves and their surrounding environments.