Postmodernism Flashcards
Postmodernism
Postmodernist theories argue that society has undergone significant changes, leading to a postmodern society characterised by rapid social change and uncertainty. In this society, traditional values, norms, and morals are increasingly questioned. Individuals now have greater freedom to make personal choices about their beliefs and lifestyles, leading to a fragmented society with diverse ways of living. In terms of the family, postmodernism emphasizes choice, fluidity, diversity, and change. The traditional nuclear family has declined, replaced by a wide variety of family structures, such as same-sex relationships, cohabitation, stepfamilies, and births outside of marriage. Growing individualism has led people to select lifestyles and relationships based on personal desires rather than adhering to traditional norms.
For example, in postmodern society, people may choose to live in non-traditional family arrangements, such as cohabiting without marriage or forming stepfamilies, rather than following the conventional nuclear family structure. Life course analysis, often used in postmodern research, focuses on understanding the meanings individuals assign to significant life events, such as moving out of home or retiring, instead of focusing solely on what sociologists deem important.
Giddens – the pure relationship
Giddens argues that in modern society, people act as individuals and make relationship choices based on personal fulfillment rather than social norms or traditions. Relationships are built on “confluent love,” where couples stay together only as long as they are in love. Giddens introduces the concept of the “pure relationship,” which is based on equality and mutual satisfaction. This leads to the rise of family diversity, with serial monogamy becoming more common as people seek to find “the one.” Individuals now have the freedom to choose relationships and family structures that best suit their needs. Giddens also highlights how same-sex relationships are pioneering new family types, promoting equality and choice in personal relationships.
AO2 (Examples):
For example, same-sex couples often create “families of choice” by forming supportive networks with friends, former lovers, and biological kin, creating family dynamics that are based on mutual choice and equality, rather than traditional gender roles.
AO3 (Evaluation):
Functionalists argue that the nuclear family remains the dominant family structure and that Giddens’ view of rising family diversity is overstated. Other critics suggest that not all individuals have the freedom to choose their life course, citing examples like arranged marriages, where personal choice is constrained by cultural or familial expectations.
Beck – the negotiated family
Beck argues that family life today is characterized by uncertainty and the breakdown of traditional gender roles. As women demand greater equality, there is also an increase in individualism, where people are guided by their own self-interest rather than the traditional obligations to others. This shift has resulted in the creation of the “negotiated family,” where family life is no longer governed by traditional norms. Instead, families now vary based on the wishes and expectations of individual members, and relationships are entered on an equal basis. However, Beck points out that the negotiated family is less stable than the traditional nuclear family because individuals are free to leave if their personal needs are not being met. This greater freedom has led to more family diversity, including single-parent families, reconstituted families, remarriages, and one-person households.
AO2 (Examples):
An example of this shift would be the increasing prevalence of single-parent families, where parents choose to live independently after separating, as opposed to staying in an unhappy or unfulfilling marriage.
AO3 (Evaluation):
Radical feminists criticize Beck’s perspective, arguing that women have not truly achieved gender equality within the family. They believe that despite the appearance of greater equality, gender roles and stereotypes still persist within families. Women may still be expected to take on the majority of the emotional and domestic work, even in negotiated family structures, which challenges the notion that family roles are truly equal.
Stacey – postmodern families
Stacey argues that greater freedom and choice have particularly benefited women, allowing them to escape patriarchal oppression and create family structures that better suit their personal needs. She conducted research on postmodern families in Silicon Valley, California, where she found that women, rather than men, have been the main agents of change within the family. Many of the women she interviewed rejected the traditional mother-housewife role, opting to work, return to education, improve their career prospects, divorce, and remarry. These women were able to create new family structures that were more aligned with their needs. One such structure is the “divorce-extended family,” where the family unit is linked by divorce. The key members are typically women and may include former in-laws, such as mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, maintaining connections to benefit their children.
AO2 (Examples):
For example, many women in Stacey’s study rejected the conventional stay-at-home mother role, choosing instead to pursue careers, return to education, and create families that were not bound by traditional gender roles. The “divorce-extended family” is an example of a new family structure that emerged from these changes.
AO3 (Evaluation):
Radical feminists would challenge Stacey’s view, arguing that women have not truly freed themselves from patriarchal oppression. Despite these advances, they may still face systemic inequalities and gendered expectations that limit their freedom and choices within the family. They might argue that while some women may have gained more freedom, patriarchal structures still persist, influencing family life and gender roles.
