Postmodernist Views

Question 1

Postmodernists views

Answer 1

According to postmodernists, society is changing at a rapid pace. Change is rapid and is transforming the nature of society.
In particular:

> People have greater freedom in what they want in their lives.
People have greater choices about what they want in their life
There is increasing diversity.

Question 2

Judith Stacey (1998) (rejecting housewife role)

Answer 2

> Women responsible for changes in family life
Women now reject the housewife role and are balancing it with work and personal interests > creating a variety of household types.
increases divorce rates = divorce-extended families (divorced couple keeping connection for the sake of their child).

EVALUATION- critics point out that she exaggerates the extent of change, and the nuclear family is the most common

CONTEMPORARY EXAMPLE- 5:2 relationships ( 5 days for work and focus on themselves: 2 days for relationship time)

Question 3

Giddens (1992) (norms and values not as useful)

Answer 3

> Over time, the norms and values of society have broken down and are not as useful as they once were.
This is due to growing individualism in society

EVALUATION- He overexaggerates the choices people have to apply to everybody however feminists say he ignores the patriarchy that continues to shape women’s lives leaving them with little individual choice

CONTEMPORARY EXAMPLE- Same-sex couples show that these relationships can happen with the norms and values in society and society is starting to accept it.

Question 4

Beck (1992) 21st century relationships

Answer 4

• Greater individualism and choice define the majority of 21st-century relationships.
• While relationships are more easily negotiated, the freedom also allows more room for poor choices, leading to unhappiness > this explains why divorce is more common than ever.
  Beck overlooks and ignores the families and relationship life are stable, strong and survive long term. > Majority of marriages last in the UK.

EVALUATION:
> He overlooks and ignores instances where family and relationship life is stable, and strong and survives long term.

Question 5

Beck and Beck-Gernsheim (1995)

Answer 5

• impact of individualism on family and relationships.
• there has been a long-term decline in the constraints that traditional families have.
• people crave love, in today’s chaotic world love promises personal fulfilment.
• expectations in a relationship = unhappiness.