Postmodernism and the Family

Question 1

What were the characteristics of a modern society (up to late 20th century)

Answer 1

• Technological advancements
  -Urbanisation
  -Clear order and pattern to life
  traditional expectations about marriage and love which was the norm

Question 2

What were the characteristics of a postmodern society (late 20th century onwards)

Answer 2

-People are free to choose their lifestyle that meets their needs and reflects their identity.
-Families become more diverse but relationships have become unstable

Question 3

What did Stacey argue about families in a postmodern society.

Answer 3

-based on discovering the greater freedom, women were benefitted
-women were creating new family structures to meet their own needs.
-They were the main agents of change - ending relationships - breaking out of the nuclear family.

Question 4

What is the evaluation of Stacey.

Answer 4

• Celebrates the diversity of family forms.
• Some argue that she may romanticise this diversity and that is not ‘all an alternative family type’.

Question 5

What did Giddens argue about families in a postmodern society.

Answer 5

• women’s increased independence and availability of reliable contraception led to people becoming disembedded or freed from traditional roles.
• People could make their own decisions.

Question 6

what is the evaluation of Giddens

Answer 6

-focuses on emotional equality and reflects offers valuable perspectives on dynamics of modern relationships.
-However his emphasis on individualism has been critiqued for neglecting the influence of social , economic and cultural factors on relationships.

Question 7

What did Beck argue about families in a postmodern society.

Answer 7

• that modern societies are increasingly preoccupied with managing risks that arise from industrialisation and globalisation.
  -risks such as environmental issues and economic uncertainties which can shape social structures.
  -emphasises the importance of individualisation .

Question 8

What is the Evaluation of Beck

Answer 8

-states we live in a risk society where the primary challenges are no longer wealth distribution but are about managing risks generated by modernisation.

Question 9

State the concepts used by postmodernists.

Answer 9

-Individualisation
-Disembedding
-Pure Relationships
-Plastic Sexuality
-Negotiated Family
-Divorce Extended Family

Question 10

Define individualisation

Answer 10

• individuals become more self -directed,often leading to a shift away from traditions and social structures.

Question 11

Define disembedding

Answer 11

-taking social relationships out of their usual local settings and connecting them in global ways.

Question 12

Define pure relationships

Answer 12

• emotional and sexual equality - couples are no longer bound by tradition but now exist simply to satisfy each partners needs.

Question 13

Define plastic sexuality

Answer 13

• sexual freedom accompanies pure relationships. People have more sexual freedom and ways to express their sexuality than ever before.

Question 14

Define negotiated family

Answer 14

• where roles, responsibilities and relationships are established through discussion and agreement among family members rather than being based on traditional norms and expectations.

Question 15

Define divorce extended family

Answer 15

-refers to the family network that remains after a divorce which can include relatives from both sides of the family.

Question 16

State and explain some other evaluations of the postmodernist view of the family.

Answer 16

-looks at why there is family diversity today which makes the theory more relevant than most modernist theories which assume the nuclear family is the norm
-however this view ignores the negative consequences that individualism and negotiated families have on society