Outline and evaluate the postmodern views on family diversity. Flashcards
postmodern views on family diversity point 1
Postmodernists argue that postmodern family life is characterized by diversity, variation and instability and that Choice is increasingly a central part of Western culture and the rising family diversity reflects this.
postmodern views on family diversity example 1
Beck-Gernsheim argue that such choice and diversity has led to the renegotiation of family relationships as people attempt to find a middle ground between individualization and commitment to another person and/or children. They trace the origins of the process of individualization back to a range of factors, including the influence of urbanization and secularization in post-modern societies.
postmodern views on family diversity counter 1
Parsons argues that Men have an instrumental role that leads them into the public sphere of paid employment, whilst women have an expressive role that leads them to take responsibility of the private sphere of home and children. This shows that there are still traditional values within the family and there actually isn’t as much diversity and variation as postmodernists argue.
postmodern views on family diversity point 2
Postmodernists argue that we live in an era where we are defined by choice and diversity and Opportunities to choose an identity and select a lifestyle are increasingly available and People have greater freedom to construct their own domestic arrangements.
postmodern views on family diversity example 2
According to Giddens this era is known as late modernity. Family diversity is a reflection of the opportunities and priorities of late modernity. People can tailor their partnerships and their families to meet their individual needs and to reflect their own identities. They can choose to cohabit or to marry, to end one relationship and begin another. People build reconstituted families. They enter uncharted territory constructing gay and lesbian families with no clear patterns to work from.
postmodern views on family diversity counter 2
Chester argues that family diversity is exaggerated and the basic features of family life have remained largely unchanged for the majority of the population since the 1950s. He says “Most adults still marry and have children. Most children are reared by their natural parents. Most people live in a house-hold headed by a married couple”.
postmodern views on family diversity point 3
Postmodernists argue there are more alternative family types that individuals can now be a part of instead of just being part of the traditional family, they also believe that alternative families are often better than traditional ones.
postmodern views on family diversity example 3
Linda Nicholson She believes there is a powerful ideology which only supports certain types of family while devaluing other types; she states that individuals can choose which family type they want to be part of. She also believes that alternative families are often better than traditional ones for the women who live in them. For example Different types of family suit different women in different circumstances. She believes the distinction between traditional and alternative families should be abandoned. The distinction implies traditional families are better, when this is often not true.
postmodern views on family diversity counter 3
Dennis and Edros argue that an increase in different family types can have negative effects, they identified the rise in the number of children brought up without fathers as a worrying development. These children were invariably associated with antisocial behaviour, criminality, delinquency, educational under-achievement and related social problems in greater proportions than their equivalent peers brought up in two-parent households.
postmodern views on family diversity point 4
Postmodernists argue that there are benefits in the increase in family diversity other than greater personal choice, freedom and individual fulfillment. They argue it creates a greater acceptance of difference in society.
postmodern views on family diversity example 4
Neale states that rising diversity leads to a less judgmental society as we become more accepting of all sorts of family structures and relationships and this reduces morality based judgements. As exposure to new cultural ideas increases, what was once new and exotic behavior becomes routine; people gradually become more accepting of ‘single parents, surrogate-mothers and gay and lesbian families’.
postmodern views on family diversity counter 4
However not everyone will accept all family structures, New rights see homosexual relationships as a part of the breakdown of the family. They also see a ‘normal’ family as the heterosexual nuclear family unit.
postmodern views on family diversity intro
Postmodernists argue for family diversity as they see variation in society as an important character for families in a post modern societies. They also argue that individuals should have the choice of what family type they want to associate themselves with.
postmodern views on family diversity conclusion
In conclusion, there are many postmodern sociologists that support family diversity and argue that individuals no longer have to conform to traditional values, for example Jagger and Wright argue that attempts to ‘turn back the tide of family diversity’ and ‘recapture an idealized “nuclear” version of family life where time stands still and traditional values are re-vitalized’ is no longer an option.
