Family diversity - personal life

Question 1

What is the general arguement?

Answer 1

Agree that there is now more family diversity but they disagree with the individualisation thesis as a reason why

Question 2

How do the criticise the individualisastion thesis

Answer 2

• Exaggerates how much choice individuals have about family choice today
  Budgeon - notes that this reflects the neoliberal ideology that individuals have complete freedom of choice when actually traditional norms limit people’s relationship choices have not weakened as much as being planned.
• The thesis wrongly sees individuals as as disembedded and independent individuals
  Ignores the fact that our decisions and choices about personal relationships are made within the social context
• Ignores the importance of structural factors
  Such as social class inequalities,patriarchal gender norms in limiting and shaping our choices

Question 3

What does may argue to criticise the individualisation thesis?

Answer 3

MAY - notes that this is because the view is simply an Idealised version of a white middle class man’ - They ignore the fact that not everyone has the same ability as the privileged group to exercise choice about relationships

Question 4

What does Smart mean by the connected thesis?

Answer 4

Smart argues we are are fundamentally social beings whose choices are always made ‘with a web of connectedness’

• According to the thesis we live within networks of existing relationships interwoven and these strongly influence our choices in relationships
• states as relationships have become interwoven and embedded it is impossible for them to simply end’ She emphasises the importance of always putting individuals in the context of their past relationships that shape their choices and family patterns.

Question 5

Class and gender - connected thesis

Answer 5

The thesis also emphasises role of class and gender structures in which we are embedded in that restrict choice
E.g men get paid more generally so have greater choice within the relationship

Question 6

Power of structures on family diversity

Answer 6

• Argue against the fact that weakening of structures in controlling lives and limiting choices → individualisation thesis
• MAy argues that instead they have been re-shaped → women have more rights to vote/ employment but does not mean they now have it all
• Sees diversity as not simply freedom of choice but rather emphasises the importance of social structures to restrict people’s choices and shape their family life.