Sociology of Personal Life Flashcards
(13 cards)
Who are the key thinkers associated with the personal life perspective on family?
Carol Smart & Petra Nordqvist
What does the personal life perspective on family emphasize?
The meanings behind relationships beyond blood and marriage
Fill in the blank: The personal life perspective suggests that we choose the families we want and need based on _______.
past experiences
What is an example of a relationship that may not be based on blood ties but still considered family?
Friendships
Fictive Kin
Pet relations
What term describes close friends who are treated as relatives?
Fictive Kin
What do ‘chosen families’ often refer to in the context of LGBTQ individuals?
Supportive networks of friends, ex-partners & others
How do relationships with dead relatives impact individuals according to the personal life perspective?
They live on in people’s memories and shape their identities and actions
What is the significance of relationships with pets in the context of family?
Children often see pets as part of the family
What did Smart & Nordqvist study to explain the importance of social relationships over genetic ones?
Donor conceived children
According to mothers in Smart & Nordqvist’s study, what defines their role as a mother?
The time taken to raise their child
True or False: The personal life perspective can be criticized for being too narrow in its definition of family.
False
What is a potential criticism of the personal life perspective on family?
It takes too broad a view and may overlook the significance of blood and marriage ties
What does the personal life perspective help us understand about family relationships?
How people construct and define ‘family’ relationships
