Postmodernism

• Morgan -

  views family as not structured, simpler what people choose to do

  discussed the concept of family practices , we contrast our own life course.
• The Rapoports -

  5 different types of family diversity in Britain - (CLOGS)

  • Cultural
  • Life stage
  • Organisation
  • Generational
  • Social class
• Beck individualisation thesis -

  • we focus on ourselves, we have more choice
  • traditional structure like class has lost influence
  • roles are no longer fixed - undermining traditional patriarchal family
  • “negotiated family”
• Giddens

  • choice and equality has created ‘families’ not ‘family’
  • focus on ‘pure relationship‘ meeting each others needs
  • ‘confluence love’
• Stacy

  • divorce extended family
  • freed women from patriarchy
• Chester

  • neo - conventional family
  • increased family diversity
  • duel earner household
  • family diversity has been exaggerated nuclear family is still the norm
• Smart

  • critical of individualisation thesis, exaggerates choice
  • ‘connectedness thesis’
  • still shaped by class and gender.