The personal life perspective Features of Post-modernity
This perspective argues that every theory of the - It is all about individualism and personal choice.
family (Functionalism, Marxism and Feminism) all - Traditions are disappearing and we are creating new ways of doing things and
suffer from two weaknesses: living our lives.
- Jobs are no longer for life
1. They tend to assume that the traditional - Relationships are no longer for life; we only remain in them as long
nuclear family is the dominant family type as they make us happy and fulfil our needs (Confluent love)
- We can pick n’ mix the things we want and reject the
2. They are all structural theories things we don’t want.
This perspective agrees that actually there is now more family - We can choose…
diversity. ● How we wish to define ourselves
● Who we want to be Postmodernism and
However, they disagree with Beck and Giddens’ individualisation ● How we want to live our lives family diversity
thesis:
Postmodernists argue that there is no
They believe it exaggerates how much choice people have about family
longer one single dominant family type
relationships today.
(the nuclear family) and that nowadays
we see lots of different family types.
In addition, it ignores the importance of structural factors such as social
class inequalities and patriarchal gender norms in limiting and shaping People choose to live in whatever family or household type that
our relationship choices. suits them at that particular time in their life.
Family - (However, less certainty means less stability and more risk!)
Postmodernism
Beck - The negotiated family Stacey She believes this greater freedom and choice has
benefitted women in turn, as it has enabled them to free
- What did he mean by us living in a ‘risk society’? themselves from patriarchal oppression, and to shape
A ‘risk society’ is where tradition has less influence and their family arrangements to meet their needs,
people have more choice. rather than conformity.
As a result, we are more aware of risks
because making choices involves The Individualisation Women now working, divorcing to
calculating the risks and rewards of Thesis remarry better and
Giddens - returning to education.
the different options open to us.
Greater choice
- Beck and Giddens
A more equal What are They created this thesis, which argues
relationship between relationships What used that traditional social structures such
men and women has as class, gender and family have lost
based on to hold
occurred due to… much of their influence over us.
now? relationships
- Contraception allowing for intimacy together? In the past, people’s lives were defined by
rather than always reproducing Today, intimate fixed roles that largely prevented them from
relationships are based choosing their own path/life course.
- Law
- Independent women with greater work on individual choice For example, everyone was expected to
- Religion
and education opportunities and equality marry and take up their gender role.
- Social norms
- Confluent love; intimacy focusing on Giddens describes this as the - Traditional institutions
Today, there are fewer such certainties and
individuals remaining together as long ‘pure relationship’ - typical of expectations to follow. Therefore we have
as they are both benefiting from it. today’s modern society. become free from traditional roles.
This perspective argues that every theory of the - It is all about individualism and personal choice.
family (Functionalism, Marxism and Feminism) all - Traditions are disappearing and we are creating new ways of doing things and
suffer from two weaknesses: living our lives.
- Jobs are no longer for life
1. They tend to assume that the traditional - Relationships are no longer for life; we only remain in them as long
nuclear family is the dominant family type as they make us happy and fulfil our needs (Confluent love)
- We can pick n’ mix the things we want and reject the
2. They are all structural theories things we don’t want.
This perspective agrees that actually there is now more family - We can choose…
diversity. ● How we wish to define ourselves
● Who we want to be Postmodernism and
However, they disagree with Beck and Giddens’ individualisation ● How we want to live our lives family diversity
thesis:
Postmodernists argue that there is no
They believe it exaggerates how much choice people have about family
longer one single dominant family type
relationships today.
(the nuclear family) and that nowadays
we see lots of different family types.
In addition, it ignores the importance of structural factors such as social
class inequalities and patriarchal gender norms in limiting and shaping People choose to live in whatever family or household type that
our relationship choices. suits them at that particular time in their life.
Family - (However, less certainty means less stability and more risk!)
Postmodernism
Beck - The negotiated family Stacey She believes this greater freedom and choice has
benefitted women in turn, as it has enabled them to free
- What did he mean by us living in a ‘risk society’? themselves from patriarchal oppression, and to shape
A ‘risk society’ is where tradition has less influence and their family arrangements to meet their needs,
people have more choice. rather than conformity.
As a result, we are more aware of risks
because making choices involves The Individualisation Women now working, divorcing to
calculating the risks and rewards of Thesis remarry better and
Giddens - returning to education.
the different options open to us.
Greater choice
- Beck and Giddens
A more equal What are They created this thesis, which argues
relationship between relationships What used that traditional social structures such
men and women has as class, gender and family have lost
based on to hold
occurred due to… much of their influence over us.
now? relationships
- Contraception allowing for intimacy together? In the past, people’s lives were defined by
rather than always reproducing Today, intimate fixed roles that largely prevented them from
relationships are based choosing their own path/life course.
- Law
- Independent women with greater work on individual choice For example, everyone was expected to
- Religion
and education opportunities and equality marry and take up their gender role.
- Social norms
- Confluent love; intimacy focusing on Giddens describes this as the - Traditional institutions
Today, there are fewer such certainties and
individuals remaining together as long ‘pure relationship’ - typical of expectations to follow. Therefore we have
as they are both benefiting from it. today’s modern society. become free from traditional roles.
