Personal life veiw of the family

• What does the personal life perspective argue about structuralist theories?

  They have two main weaknesses
• What is one weakness of structuralist theories according to the personal life perspective?

  They assume traditional nuclear family dominance
• What does the term 'structuralist theories' imply in the context of family?

  Families are passively manipulated by society
• Which sociological perspectives reject the structuralist view?

  Interactionist and Postmodernist perspectives
• What do Interactionist and Postmodernist perspectives emphasize about family creation?

  People make choices when creating families
• What should we focus on to understand families today?

  The meanings members give to their relationships
• What approach does the personal life perspective take towards relationships?

  A 'bottom-up' approach
• What does the personal life perspective include beyond traditional relationships?

  A wider view of personal or intimate relationships
• What types of relationships does the personal life perspective highlight?

  • Relationships with friends
  • Fictive kin
  • Gay and lesbian 'chosen families'
  • Relationships with dead relatives
  • Relationships with pets
• How might friends be viewed in the context of the personal life perspective?

  As siblings or family members
• What are fictive kin?

  Close friends treated as relatives
• What do gay and lesbian 'chosen families' consist of?

  A supportive network of close friends
• How do relationships with dead relatives affect individuals?

  They shape identities and actions
• How do children view their pets in relation to family?

  As part of the family
• What did Nordqvist and Smart (2014) research focus on?

  Donor-conceived children
• What feelings did Nordqvist and Smart find regarding blood and genes?

  They raised a range of feelings
• What did most single-sex couples emphasize in forming family bonds?

  The importance of social relationships
• What does increased choice in personal life allow regarding family structures?

  More choice over personal relationships
• What are the consequences of the personal life perspective for understanding family?

  • 'Family' can be anyone
  • 'Family' can be diverse
  • 'Family' can be fluid
  • 'Family' is subjective
• What does the personal life perspective suggest about the definition of family?

  It can be subjective
• How does the personal life perspective differ from Functionalism regarding relatedness?

  It recognizes relatedness is not always positive