Giddens : Postmodern View of Family

• We were identified by our roles; being a good mother, providing for the family as the male breadwinner.

  The individualisation thesis: In the past people's lives were defined by fixed roles that largely prevented them from selecting their own life course. Now we are individuals with choice; we have become disembedded from traditional family roles and expectations.
• The future was predictable - we would get married to someone of the opposite sex and have children with them.

  Due to contraception and feminist movements, relationships are no longer simply for reproduction. We can define our own relationships, based on love and shared interests. Giddens called these 'pure relationships' as they are not functional but are a personal choice.