Theories of Individualisation Flashcards
What are some theories of individualisation?
Giddens (1993)
Beck and Beck-Gernsheim (1995)
Explain Giddens 1993 individualistaion theory
Argues we should move away from the idea of families and instead focus of relationships which are a product of modernity
Due to this modernity, relationships have become democratised through:
sex being separated from reproduction - contraception
a liberation in attitudes towards sex - for fun
resulting in a stronger emphasis on self-fullfilment
So women’s role in sex has changed causes them to have multiple partners and focus of whether a relationship fulfils them more etc
This has led to the concept of ‘pure relationships’
relationships for its own sake and not purely for reproduction
The consequences of this are that people have arguablely become less committed to each other and people are trying before they buy more
eg increase in divorce rates
eg Introduction of UK No-Fault Divorce legislation in 2022
So family is arguably less important as people are less likely to get married, live with each other, have families of choice etc
However, this ignore intersectionality such as class, gender, inequality, power etc that may explain why people are doing this.
Explain Beck and Beck-Gernsheim’s 1995 explanation of individualisation
Similar to Giddens but much more pessimistic
They argue we are now living in a risk society as people have shifted to prioritising personal satisfaction over-commitment
Due to this constant search for the perfect partner while relationships provide security that people crave, they are still happy to leave if they believe it is not meeting their needs creating an elusive understanding of love and relationships
family is not as important as relationships as seen by increasing divorce rates that destroy families for children based of whether the parents are happy
However, this, as highlighted by smart 2007, is very heteronormative and doesn’t take into account different types of relationships etc
Explain Smart’s (2007) theory
Smart 2007 Theory of Personal Life
Family is not a network or just individuals but people making agentic choices within the societal structure of who they believe to be their family.
This approach seeks to avoid privileging biological kin or marriage but focuses on the relationships we choose to have with people and the quality of these relationships, allowing us to chose families of choice
Breaks away from the middle class white heteronormative views of previous theory
families of choice are increasing
eg ONS 2021 census show that there’s been over a 50% growth of same sex couple families since 2015
eg Heaphy 2018 said gay couples are quite ordinary now
could talk about almack 2008
What’s an opposing view to individualisation?
Institutionalisation of family in policy - nuclear family/biological family is backed up by policy and law
Woodthorpe and Rumble 2016
Funeral Expence Payment (FEP) - have to apply and state why you should get it but they can decide if there’s a family member who could do it instead - gov decided family due to no legal next of kin
bearevmnet leave - employers can decide if they think it is an immediate family member
Almack 2008
Blake et al 2009
Mason and Muir 2013
These all show that people still care about family
