postmodernism and family diversity

• modernists take a structural or top-down approach, seeing the family as a structure that shapes the behaviour of its members so they perform the functions society requires
• postmodernists believe society has entered a new, chaotic, postmodern stage where there is no longer one single, dominant stable family structure such as the nuclear family
• postmodernists believe people have much more choice in their lifestyles. personal relationships and family arrangements
• family diversity gives individuals greater freedom to chose the kind of family and personal relationships that meet their needs, but means a greater risk of instability since these relationships are more likely to break up
• Stacey used life history interviews to conduct a series of case studies of postmodern families in California and found that postmodern families have benefited women, with greater freedom and choice enabling them to free themselves from patriarchal oppression
• David Morgan argues it is pointless trying to make large scale generalisations as functionalists do, so sociologists should focus their attention on how people create their own diverse family lives
• Giddens and Beck came up with the individualisation thesis; exploring the effects of increasing individual choice upon families and relationships
• the individualisation thesis argues that traditional social structures such as class, gender and family have lost influence over us
• the individualisation thesis argues that peoples lives were defined by fixed roles that largely prevented them from choosing their own life course, whereas now people have fewer certainties or fixed roles to follow
• Beck argues that the 'standard biography' or life course that people followed in the past has been replaced by the 'do-it-yourself biography' that individuals must construct for themselves
• The individualisation thesis suggests that we are more likely to be able to choose our partners than ever before because there are no longer any restrictions based on class, race or religion
• Giddens believes there are 2 reasons why the family and marriage has been transformed by greater choice and more equal relationships: (1) contraception has allowed sex and intimacy to become a reason for the relationship rather than reproduction (2) women have gained independence as a result of feminism
• Giddens argues that what holds relationships together today is no longer law, religion, social norms or traditional institutions, but individual choice and equality
• Giddens argues that the key feature of the pure relationship is that is exists solely to satisfy each partners needs, however with more choice, personal relationships inevitably become less stale and partners no longer commit to their relationships, producing greater family diversity
• Giddens argues that same sex couples can negotiate personal relationships and to actively create family structures that serve their own needs, rather than having to conform to pre-existing norms like heterosexual couples have traditionally
• Beck argues that we now live in a risk society, where tradition has less influence and people have more choice, resultantly making us more aware of risks
• greater gender equality and greater individualism are two trends which has led to the negotiated family, which do not conform to the traditional family norm but vary according to the wishes and expectations of their members
• although the negotiated family is more equal, is is less stable as individuals are free to leave if their needs are not met, leading to greater family diversity
• although traditional patriarchal families were inequal and oppressive, it provided a stable and predictable basis for family life by defining each members roles and responsibilities
• Beck describes the family as a 'zombie category' because family relationships are now subject to greater risk, so cannot provide a haven of security in an insecure world
• Budgeon argues that traditional norms that limit people's relationship choices have not weakened as much as the individualisation thesis claims
• the individualisation thesis ignored the fact that our decisions and choices are made within a social context
• the individualisation thesis ignores the importance of structural factors such as social class inequalities and patriarchal gender norms in limiting and shaping our relationship choices
• May argues Giddens' and Beck's view of the individual when creating the individualisation thesis is an idealised version of a white middle class man, ignoring the fact that not eveyone has the same ability and privelages
• the connectedness thesis is an alternative to the individualisation thesis proposed by personal life sociologists
• Smart argues that we are fundamentally social beings whose choices are always made 'within a web of connectedness' instead of seeing us as disembedded isolated individuals with limitless choice about personal relationships
• the connectedness thesis argues that we live within networks of existing relationships and interwoven personal histories which strongly influence our range of options and choices in relationships
• Finch and Mason studies extended families and found that they are embedded within family connections and obligations that restrict their freedom of choice
• Finch and Mason's findings challenge the notion of the pure relationship
• the connectedness thesis also emphasises the fact that gender and class structures limit our choices about the kinds of relationships, identities and families we can create for ourselves
• the relative powerlessness of women and children compared to men mean that many lack freedom to choose and remain in abusive relationships
• men are generally better paid than women, giving them greater freedom and choice in relationships
• May criticises Beck and Giddens argument that class, gender and family structures traditionally controlling our lives and choices are disappearing, arguing that they are simply being reshaped
• the personal life perspective does not see increased diversity simply as a result of greater freedom of choice (like Beck and Giddens) but emphasises the importance of continuing structures such as patriarchy and class inequality restricting choices