postmodernism on the family

Question 1

what are the dates of the different eras?

Answer 1

pre modern era - pre industrial society

modern era - industrialisation to about 1980s

post modern era - 1980s onwards

Question 2

what is postmodernism?

Answer 2

• since the late 20thC (1980s onwards) society has entered a new ‘post modern phase’
• post modern society has 2 characteristics:
  1. diversity and fragmentation
  2. rapid social change

Question 3

what does postmodernism mean for the nuclear family?

Answer 3

many more alternative family structures to choose from (e.g. one parent families, reconstituted families, same sex families)

Question 4

what did David Cheal (postmodernist) say?

Answer 4

• says we no longer live in ‘modern’ society with predictable, orderly structures like the nuclear family
• says there is no one dominant family structure
• says individuals have more choice in their lifestyles and personal relationships (diversity)
• however, greater freedom to choose also means greater risk of instability and family break up

Question 5

Judith Stacey (postmodernist)

the ‘divorce extended family’

Answer 5

• family members connected by divorce rather than marriage
• relationship with former in-laws etc
• illustrates that postmodern families are diverse, and their shape depends upon choices people make e.g. whether to get divorced, cohabit, come out etc

Question 6

what does Ulrich Beck (postmodernist) say about increased risk?

Answer 6

• in postmodern society, more choice and individualism brings increased risk
• relationships become less stable and this can result in greater family diversity (lone parent, stepfamilies, one person households etc)
• in contrast, the traditional nuclear family provided a more stable family life by defining roles
• this predictable and stable structure has been undermined by:
  1. greater gender equality
  2. greater individualism self-interest

Question 7

Beck: the zombie family

Answer 7

• in todays ‘risk society’ people turn to the family for security
• however, it cant provide security because of its own instability
• beck describes this as a zombie family as the family appears to be alive but in reality it is dead and cannot provide security people crave

Question 8

Anthony Giddens (postmodernist)

the pure relationship

Answer 8

• he thinks couples are no longer restricted by law, religion, traditional norms and values
• this has created what Giddens calls ‘the pure relationship’ which exists solely to meet each partners needs, not the needs of society or tradition

Question 9

what are the criticisms on the postmodern view?

(GIDDENS AND BECK)

Answer 9

Giddens & Beck may overestimate the amount of freedom people have when forming relationships.
for example:

• family connections limit our choices as separated parents are still linked by their children
• class & age can also place limits on available choices
• females usually have custody of children which may place restrictions on new relationships