Late-Modernity

• Late Modernity

  More individual choice but not as free
• Giddens

  • Family and marriage transformed by grater choice not bound by trad. or family expectations > more personal relationships = less stable
• Beck's risk society

  • Less influence of tradition
  • Spend more time calculating risks and rewards, insecurity in society = personal decisions informed from what they see in society
  • contrasts with nuclear family and trad. gender roles
  • nuclear family is undermined by gender equality and individualism > calculate actions for self interest rather than obligation
• Overall criticisms

  • individualism based on free will, could impact social connections
  • structure of family influences our personal choice, lead to rejection or staying with partners out of fear of judgement
  • modernist traditions remain in some social classes, keep up with appearance or economic security
• Key concepts

  • Individualism = focusing on goals rather than needs of society
  • Increased insecurity e.g relationships, employment
  • Reflexivity = individuals reflect on place in society due to increasing changes
  • Increased interconnectedness