postmodernism

• Postmodernism


  A sociological theory that arose as a consequence of advanced modernization
• Postmodern theorists


  • Believe that the era we are living in can be classed as postmodern due to its fundamental differences from the age of modernity
  • Argue that society must also be studied differently now
• Postmodernists


  Argue that we should look at family as a fluid and changing concept
• Postmodernists


  Disagree with theories such as functionalism and Marxism which make generalisations about families
• Alternative family structures


  • Single-parent families
  • Reconstituted families
  • Same-sex parent families
• Family diversity


  Families are characterised by diversity, not alikeness
• Personal life


  A more neutral term than 'family' that can consider all types of personal relationships that may not fall under the narrow scope of 'family' but are still very meaningful to people
• Relationships beyond biological relations or connections through marriage


  • Relationships with former partners or spouses and their families
  • Long-distance relationships
  • Close connections with neighbours or colleagues
  • Pets
• Life course analysis


  • Studying people's choices throughout their lives as they experience key events such as marriage, parenthood, divorce, or the death of a loved one
  • Understanding the meanings people give to these life events
• Studying people's life courses instead of simply their families


  Can understand family diversity in greater detail
• When studying families, an unstructured approach as well as qualitative rather than quantitative should be used
• Postmodernism itself


  Has been claimed to be a metanarrative, as postmodernist theorists make generalisations about the fluidity and modern nature of society
• Structural factors such as race, gender and social class


  Still impact a significant amount of people's lives and choices
• Late modernist sociologists such as Anthony Giddens and Ulrich Beck


  Claim that we are not yet in a postmodernist society; therefore, we still retain a lot of elements of modernist family patterns and experiences
• Too much choice and diversity


  Can lead to instability, as any of the partners can end the relationship at will
• The nuclear family type is still dominant, although there is increased family diversity
• Women have more freedom to make their own choices


  But are still harshly judged by wider society for not conforming to traditional familial expectations
• Functionalists


  Argue that the nuclear family is the ideal family type because it maintains social solidarity and keeps society functioning smoothly
• Strengths of postmodernist perspectives


  • Have introduced the idea that post-modern life is characterized by diversity, navigation and instability and that choice is increasingly a central part of western culture
  • Have made us question the more traditional forms of sociology such as Marxism and functionalism in terms of their relevance in post-modern society
  • Argue that such choice and diversity has led to the renegotiation of family structures and relationships as people attempt to find middle ground between individualism and commitment to another person or children
• Postmodernists suggest that the family as we know it today will continue to change
• Divorce rates are increasing


  The family and its structures are likely to continue changing for many people
• Changes in attitudes towards romantic and sexual connections


  The importance of family life has changed
• Declining stigma attached to premarital sex and relationships in the West


  Individuals have more opportunities to 'find the one' and explore different partnerships before settling down to marry
• Individuals are more experienced and have higher standards for marriage


  Compared to more traditional times
• Marriage and starting a family


  Do not serve as many functional purposes as before
• Recent changes in medical technology have allowed for greater freedom to control fertility and reproduction such as IVF
• These advancements


  Allow for greater reproductive choice for people overall, and create opportunities for single, gay or older individuals to have families without assuming traditional nuclear family structures
• Postmodernism


  A sociological theory that arose as a consequence of advanced modernisation
• Postmodern theorists


  • Believe the era we are living in can be classed as postmodern, with fundamental differences from the age of modernity
  • Argue that we should look at the family in a fluid and changing way
  • Disagree with theories such as functionalism and Marxism that make generalisations about the family
• Family


  Unique for every individual, with family dynamics and interactions that cannot be generalised
• Diverse family types


  • Single parent families
  • Reconstituted families
  • Same-sex families
• Postmodern view of the family

  • The family structure is fluid and changing
  • Increased freedom for women to create their own family structures
  • Divorce has led to extended family connections beyond marriage
  • Women are no longer restricted to traditional family arrangements and can create diverse family structures to meet individual needs
• Personal life


  A broader lens proposed by Carol Smart to study relationships, considering all types of meaningful relationships beyond just family
• Freedom of choice defines relationships but creates uncertainty and instability, leading to chaotic and unpredictable family structures and rapid social change
• Postmodern approach to studying individuals

  • Focus on individuals' life courses and the meanings they give to events, rather than just their families
  • Recognise that individuals may experience diverse family types throughout their lifetime
  • Emphasise the influence of culture and family expectations on people's choices
• Postmodern life


  Characterised by diversity, variation and instability, which are increasingly central to Western culture and the changing nature of the family
• Postmodernism has questioned the relevance of more traditional sociological theories like Marxism and functionalism in postmodern society
• Postmodernism has led to a renegotiation of family structures and relationships as people attempt to find a balance between individualism and commitment to others
• Postmodernists are accused of making generalisations about the nature of modern society, despite claiming to be against metanarratives
• Structural factors like race and religion still have a significant impact on people's lives and choices, despite postmodern claims of diversity