Personal Life Perspective

• (Connectedness Thesis) Personal Life Perspective (PLP) believes...

  the family is constructed from individuals' choices influenced by past experiences or wider society.
• Who is the main sociologist for PLP and what key things does she point out?

  • Carol Smart
  • argues sociologists should focus on the personal meaning of families rather than its function to society.
  • critiques the Marxist, Functionalist and Feminist perspectives for said reason.
• What does the Connectedness Thesis (PLP) argue maintains / holds together relationships?

  • current circumstances
  • existing relationships
  • shared history
  • thus not based on selfish/individual needs
• The Personal Life Perspective believes that choices about family are influenced by the expectations of the society they currently live in.
• According to PLP, the choices made about family are influenced by three things:

  1. past experiences/family history
  2. current expectations in society
  3. structural factors (e.g. C.L.O.G.S)
• Family Types Linked to the PLP:

  • chosen family - Weeks (those who you pick to be your family)
  • Fictional Kin (those who feel like family based on personal connection)
• In short, the connectedness thesis explains that individual choices have a social context. They're not selfish like the individualisation thesis.
• PLP believes that the family is not constructed SOLELY on external factors like the Marxist, functionalist and feminist perspectives believe.