Sociology 1 - Postmodernism Flashcards
what is the postmodernism theory about
the perspective believes that there is no dominant family and that traditional structures have broken down
list the postmodernists
Beck, Rapoports, Giddens, Stacey, Chester, Weeks
what does Giddens discuss
Couples are free to define the relationship themselves rather than acting out roles that are defined by laws and traditions, they are based on freedom rather than bound by traditions
‘pure relationship’ exists to meet the partners needs, couples stay together because of love and happiness or sexual attraction
Rapoports’
Family diversity rather than nuclear family: CLOGS - cultural, life stage, organisational, generational, social class
cultural: Asian families are more likely to be an extended family (3 or more generations in one household) bcos their culture believes it’s important to take care of your parents.
Social class: socialisation differs from the middle class with the m/c more likely to influence a pro school culture. M/c more likely to have shared conjugal roles. W/c more likely to maintain family relationships.
Stacey
Divorce extended family- members are connected by divorce rather than marriage e.g. ex in laws or former husbands new partner.
Women are the driving force behind changes in the family - women rejected traditional housewife role and have chosen varied paths
Greater freedom 4 women & can shape family to meet their needs and free themselves from patriarchal oppression
Beck
Increasing individual choice within families & relationships.
Individualisation theory: traditional structures e.g. class, family, gender have lost their influence over us - in the past peoples lives defined by fixed roles preventing them from selecting their own life course.
Pos+ ~ greater freedom has benefited women freeing them from patriarchal oppression as they are free to shape their family arrangements to meet their needs.
weeks
‘fictive kin’ - family is who you have a trusting bond with, people regarded as family even without being a blood relative e.g. pets
Chester - evaluation
Functionalist
The neo-conventional family } dual-worker families where both parents have jobs outside of the home.
The nuclear family still seemed as the best type of family and what most people aim for in their family type.
Other evaluation
ethnocentric & focused on Western ideas
Functionalists argue that postmodernists ignore the fact that the nuclear family is the most common family type therefore family may not be as diverse.
features of postmodernity/ postmodernism
increased diversity + choice
increased hybridity = merging of cultures + creating new ones
influence of globalisation on crime, education, family, culture, identity, media + beliefs
features of pre-modern society
arts x theatre
importance of religion as a grand metanarrative - a version of the truth
^ relied on religion for reasoning and decision making
late modernity x beck
late modernism is a continuation of modernity with the features of modernity being intensified = pace of change has increased
Beck believes todays late modern society (risk - society) faces new dangers = in past dangers were physical e.g. famine x disease but today are manufactured x created by tech e.g. global warming x pollution
^ late modernity is period of individualism : tradition no longer governs how we act + we now need to consider our actions and possible risks attached - this is risk consciousness e.g. reading abt risks + benefits of food
learn abt risks thru mass media giving us distorted view e.g. high fear of crime
EV : some groups more likely to be exposed to risks e.g. poor are more likely to live in heavily polluted areas since they can’t afford to live in healthier areas meaning even if they reflect on their actions they cannot change them to avoid risks
lyotard
postmodernist
ppl no longer believe in the myth of truth e.g. vaccines + no longer blindly believe there is one truth ( metanarratives) as society is changing too fast to be explained by general theories like marxism
loss of faith in the superiority of science + progress
baudrillard
postmodernist
mass media is so far into our lives that it begins to shape the way we live -> our society is saturated with media imagery
simulacra = people have been over saturated with media & now fail to distinguish between real vs fake e.g. media images of war zones - no corpses just war torn streets
we live in hyperreality = media images appear more real than reality itself, this leads to inability to distinguish btwn image x reality
hyperreality
blurring lines between what is real x what is simulated
