Postmodernist view on family

Question 1

Rapoport – types of family diversity​

Answer 1

Organisational – differences in ways family roles are organised e.g. one wage earner, dual earner family​

Cultural – different cultural, religious ethnic family structures e.g. Asian families more likely to be extended​

Social class – differences in family structure and child rearing practices.​

Life stage diversity – family structures differ according to your stage in the life cycle e.g. newly weds, young children, retired etc.​
Generational – over time attitudes and norms around family relationships and structure change.​

Question 2

Judith Stacey​

Answer 2

In postmodern society there is greater freedom and choice for women to shape and change their family lives​

Life history interviews in Silicon valley, California​

Rejection of traditional housewife role​

Women had created new family type - ‘divorce-extended family’ – members connected by divorce not marriage eg. Pam friends with her ex-husbands new wife.​

There is now greater acceptance of gay couple headed families who create family forms and relationships which suit them and can be more egalitarian in sharing housework/ childcare for instance.​

Question 3

Anthony Giddens

Answer 3

The Pure relationship​

Relationships are based on individual choice and happiness not social norms, laws, religion.​

The relationship survives so long as both couples feel in love, happy, attracted, not out of a sense of duty.​

It is less stable and more likely to breakdown.​

Same-sex relationships are not so influenced by tradition as heterosexual ones. Create unique family structures which meet their needs.​

Question 4

Strengths of postmodernist view of family

Answer 4

Explains recent changes and increased family diversity​

Recognises new familial types ​

‘Choice’ as a key concept for explaining these new types of family​

‘Change’ during the life course is recognised as being fundamental to modern life

Question 5

weakness of postmodernism view of family

Answer 5

Too theoretical – little empirical evidence to support ideas​

Diversity is overly identified as a feature of family life – nuclear families are still a dominant form​

Society can still be very traditional and reinforce traditional roles​

Overly conceptual and complex language make the theory hard to use