Summary
Summary Postmodernism Views of the Family
- Institution
- PEARSON (PEARSON)
Gives a detailed summary of the views of the postmodernism theory in relation to the family. Includes research from many researchers.
[Show more]
Seller
Follow
Content preview
Postmodernism and the FamilyPostmodernists argue that we have now entered a new phase in society which goes beyond
modernity (modern industrial society). Individuals now feel less constrained by social structures and
cultural norms. Individuals can construct a plurality of identities and lifestyles which are not simply
shaped by single influences such as class, gender and ethnicity. In many ways postmodern thinking
challenges the traditional approaches in sociology.
Postmodernists such as Lyotard (1984) and Baudrillard (2001) believe that:
- Contemporary society is rapidly changing and full of uncertainties, with people questioning a
whole range of traditionally accepted values, morals and norms.
- Individuals are no longer constrained by social structures, like the family, social class or
religion, and they are rejecting ideas about the traditional family as a mainstay of social
order.
- Society has become fragmented into a mass of individuals who are making their own choices
about what they choose to believe in, and how they live their daily lives.
The terms diversity, plurality and consumer choice are key themes in postmodern descriptions of
society. According to postmodernists, the disintegration of the traditional family is related to the
increase in consumer choice and individualisation.
Beck-Gernsheim (2002) and Stacey (1996) argue that the traditional family is being replaced by a
wide diversity of relationships in which people are choosing to live.
- Individuals no longer feel bound by traditional ideas and expectations about marriage,
lifelong monogamy, parenthood and family life, or traditional sexual identities.
- Rising divorce rates, cohabitation, multiple partners, serial monogamy and births outside
marriage all reflect the way people are adopting new lifestyles and ways of relating to one
another suited to their needs, rather than being constrained by traditional norms.
Many of the changes in family life (such as the decline in family size and marriage rates, the rising
divorce rate, growing lone parenthood and individuals living alone, more shared households and
'families of choice', and changing roles in the family) are widely regarded by politicians and social
policymakers as a threat to the family and something to worry about, as support networks are
weakened, and individuals face growing insecurity, uncertainty and anxiety in their lives.
Postmodernists see these changes as simply reflecting individuals making their consumer choices.
Individuals pick and choose and 'mix and match ‘relationships as it suits them and change these over
a period of time.
The rise of alternative family units, cohabitation, multiple partners and more diversity in sexual
relationships, with greater tolerance of homosexuality, make the notion of the traditional family as a
social institution redundant, as it has been replaced by a huge range of ever-changing personal
relationships and household arrangements in which people are choosing to live.
Individualisation Thesis
Chambers (2012) points out that individualization has been a central explanation for key changes in
ideas about love, commitment and family decline, and for the development of new kinds of personal
relationships. The individualization thesis was developed in the work of Giddens (1993),
Beck (1992), Beck and Beck-Gernsheim (1995, 2001, 2002) and Bauman (2003). Beck-Gernsheim
(2002) describes individualization as the process whereby the traditional social relationships, bonds,
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller izzygant. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for £5.49. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
Can Stuvia be trusted?
4.6 stars on Google & Trustpilot (+1000 reviews)
67474 documents were sold in the last 30 days
Founded in 2010, the go-to place to buy revision notes and other study material for 14 years now