Personal Life Perspective

Question 1

What are the characteristics of this theory?

Answer 1

• social constructionist view / theory
• social action
• micro

Question 2

What is their view on the family?

Answer 2

They raise questions about how we define a family
- individuals can define what family means to them

Question 3

Stacey

Answer 3

• according of family diversity
• divorce-extended family
- may appear to be broken but ongoing relationships have meaning
• ‘fictive kin’ = close friends who are treated as relatives

Question 4

Nordqvist & Smart

Answer 4

• donor-concieved families = focus on lesbian couples who had used a sperm donor w/ one genetic and one non-genetic mum
- evidence that family is a social construct

Question 5

Clarke

Answer 5

• looks at what marriage means to people in a relationship
• every couple has its own arrangements, expectations and meanings
• marriage is something to practice

Question 6

Criticisms

Answer 6

• can be accused of taking too broad a view
• ignore what is special about relationships that’s are based on blood or marriage
• Functionalism: nuclear family performs essential functions