C1 SB - Families & Relationships - Topic 9, Postmodernism & The Family Flashcards
David Morgan (1996) - Family practices
Should be less concerned about what the family is and what its function is and focus more on what it means to individuals and how they work together.
Janet Finch (2007) - “Family Display”
Individuals do certain “family things” to reinforce the family identity e.g. family meals, photographs and weddings etc.
Anthony Giddens (1992) - reflexive modernisation (optimistic)
Traditional norms and values disappearing, not restricting people. Individuals have more choice. Nuclear family no longer the norm. Confluent love more relevant in late modernity.
Beck & Beck Gernsheim (1992, 1995) - risk society and individualisation
More aware of risks. Social life based on avoiding risk e.g. relationship instead of marriage. People = self obsessed due to individualisation, families becoming fragmented.
Jean-francois Lyotard (1984) - The postmodern condition
Question everything, no longer sure about what is true and false.
Jon Bernardes (1997) - 5 characteristics of postmodern family
1) Choice
2) Freedom - No longer restricted
3) Diversity - family types
4) Ambivalence - no longer sure about what is normal
5) Fluidity - families and relationships not fixed
Judith Stacey (1996) - Pam & Dotty
Example of diversity and fluidity allowing individuals to develop lifestyles and relationships that suit their changing circumstances
- Robert Chester - (1985) The neo-conventional family
Not strictly nuclear families but based on the nuclear model.
*Jennifer Somerville (2000) - Continuity of marriage
Most people in UK still committed to family life. 5% of people will never marry in their lives. Acknowledges change but argues PMs exaggerate how much change has taken place.
*Diana Gittens (1993) - Family ideology
Believes consensus of nuclear family is maintained through powerful and misleading ideology.
*Edmund Leach (1967) - Cereal packet family
Advertising supports strong ideology - portraying happy family through traditional gender roles.
*Carol Smart (2007) - Personal life
View of family changed as people who we now consider as family may not be blood related. Individuals still have many personal relationships fulfilling the function of the family.
