FAMILY+HOUSEHOLDS - Postmodernists and the family Flashcards
What is the key belief postmodernists have about the family
- Family structures are varied and people have more freedom in the family choices they make like relationships and arrangements
What are the 2 key features of a post modernist society and explain them
1) Diversity and fragmentation
- Wide diversity of cultures = fragmentation
- Multiple factors creating peoples identity like cultures, preferences = diversity
2) Rapid social change
- Growing and developing technology and transforming patterns of work and leisure = life becomes less predictable
What impact does they key features rapid social change have on the family
- Who do they criticise
- Makes the family life more diverse with no dominant
WHO: Structural theorists because generalisations can’t be made about families in society
Stacey
- What did she argue
- What study supports this
- Why did this happen
- Define a ‘divorce-extended family’
WHAT: Women have more freedom than ever to shape their families for themselves, freeing them from patriarchy
STUDY: In California, women are the driving force behind social changes in the family
WHY: Many rejected typical notions of the housewife, taking more varied paths in their developing life
DEFINE: A family connected by divorce rather than marriage
Hareven
- What does he argue
- What pros are there to this
WHAT: Sociologists should focus on individual family members and the choices they make in family arrangements
PROS: Recognises the flexibility and variation in peoples lives and the choices they make
What are some criticisms of post modernism and the family
- Latemodernists like Giddens
- Contemporary feminists (especially criticising Stacey)
- Personal life perspective
LATE MODERNISTS: while people have more freedom, there is still structure that shapes peoples decisions
FEMINISTS: Disagree, saying most cases traditional gender roles discouraging women remain the norm
PERSONAL LIFE: Exaggerates the choice people have - social structures still exist and will thus influence peoples choices
Beck and Giddens - Individualisation view
- What do they argue
- What advancements does Giddens argue has helped transform this social structure
WHAT: Traditional structures have lost influence, and we have been freed = the ability to choose the family that meets out needs and wants
GIDDENS: Contraception and female independence which has also caused pure relationships
