Beck : negotiated family

• we're now more aware of risks as tradition has less influence and people have more choice

  -making choices involves calculating the risks & rewards if the different options open to us
• patriarchal undermined by 2 trends


  -greater gender inequality : challenged male domination in all spheres of life, women now expect equality both in work & marriage

  -greater individualism : people's actions influenced more by calculations of own self-interest than sense of obligatioin to others
• these trends in patriarchal family led to negotiated family
• negotiated family


  -doesn't conform to traditional family norms

  -vary according to wishes & expectations from members

  -enter relationship on equal basis
• less stable than patriarchal family


  -individuals free to leave if needs aren't met

  -instability leads to greater family diversity
• the zombie family - Beck


  -appears to be alive

  -in reality is dead

  -people turn to the family in hopes of finding security but families now are more risky and uncertain than ever before