Postmodernism

• What do Postmodernists (in general) argue?

  Society and social structures (family, class, religion) have ceased to exist and have been replaced by a mass of individuals making individual choices
• What does Postmodernists Lyotard & Baudrillard say about the family ?

  - Contemporary society is rapidly changing and full of uncertainties

  
  

  - People questioning traditionally accepted norms and values

  
  

  - Rejecting ideas about the traditional family as a foundation of society
• What does Postmodernists Beck-Gernsheim say about the family?

  The increased consumer choice in the postmodernist world is reflected in the disintegration of the traditional family and its being replaced by a wider diversity of families because of the increased consumer choice
• What is the Individualisation thesis ?

  Beck-Gernsheim describes individualisation as the process whereby the traditional social relationships and beliefs that used to strongly regulate people's lives have been losing their meaning and influence.
• What is Confluent love ?

  Created by Giddens


  - An active and conditional love

  - Building of trust and emotional intimacy

  - Conditional in that it only lasts as long as it meets the needs of both partners
• What does Beck-Gernsheim say about confluent love ?

  "Until the next best thing" is emerging

  - Refusal of lifelong commitments
• What does Giddens say about confluent love ?

  There's a move away from "romantic love"(when people fall in love and stay together regardless) towards "confluent love"
• What is a "Pure relationship" ?

  - When individuals decide to carry on maintaining their relationship because it meets their emotional and sexual needs.

  
  

  - Will only last as long as it meets both individuals needs and they benefit from it
• How are the Postmodernist theories criticised ?

  - Changes in society are exaggerated: Smart (2007) argues the individualisation thesis exaggerates the extent of the family decline.

  People have not been entirely cut free from social pressures and are still influenced by factors such as class, gender & ethnicity

  
  

  - Modern behaviour is not v different from the past: Chambers (2012) not all components of traditional life have declined e.g. women still have main responsibility over childcare & housework

  
  

  - Only fits a small section of societies experiences: Smart & Chambers suggest individualisation only fits white, heterosexual middle class. Ignores ethnic and class differences