Postmodern perspective

intro Like family diversity Micro theory There is no longer one single, dominant, stable family structure such as the nuclear family. Instead, family structures have become fragmented into many different types and individuals now have much more choice in their lifestyles, personal relationships and family arrangements Society is in a new postmodern phase (2 characteristics): Diversity and fragmentation Rapid social change

Postmodern study: Giddens The transformation of intimacy: Premodernity and marriage: In pre-modern society marriage was designed to ensure a familys survival as an economic unit and as such was rarely motivated by love People married for economic security and stability Economic love Modernity: Romantic love / eternal love Contains the idea that people will be together forever Love became the main reason to get married Romantic love should be egalitarian. The bound is based upon mutual attraction, however it has tended to lead to the dominance of men Postmodernity: Confluent love Confluent love is active contingent (short term, temporary) love and challenges the concept of the ‘forever’ and ‘one and only’ qualities of the concept of the romantic love People are increasingly pursuing the ideal of the pure relationship, individuals remain in a relationship providing they are emotionally and sexually satisfied As a result, the relationship is likely to survive only so long as both partners think its their own interest to do so Unlike romantic love, confluent love is not necessarily monogamous, in the sense of sexual exclusiveness More fragile relationships/short term

Why has there been a change in the nature of love? Secularization, decline in traditional values Unit of consumption: high expectations of relationship success, relationships have become more fragile Eternal love has declined Contraception: decline in stigma, safer, wider availability for women, more control over fertility Same sex marriage law passed Divorce reform act 1969: choice Feminism: women have gained greater independence because of greater opportunities in education and work as well as being more career focused leading to single person households

Postmodern study: Giddens and Beck: the individualization thesis The individualization thesis explore the effects of increasing individual choice upon families and relationships According to the thesis, in the past, peoples lives were defined by fixed roles that largely prevented them from choosing their own life By contract, individuals in todays society have fewer certainties or fixed roles to follow We have become dethatched from traditional roles and structures, leaving us with more freedom to choose how we lead our lives

Criticisms of the individualization thesis Exaggerates how much choice people have about family relationships today. In reality, however, traditional norms that limit peoples relationships choice have not as weakened as the thesis claims The thesis wrongly sees people as ‘free-floating’. It ignores the fact that our decisions are made within social context eg culture and social class Giddens and becks view of the individual is simply ‘an idealized version of white-middle class man – not everyone has the same ability to exercise choice about relationships THE PERSONAL LIFE APPROACH: they suggest that individuals decisions about relationships can be affected by those around us. It can be impossible for relationships to simply end

Giddens: choice and equality Giddens argues that in recent decades the family and marriage have been transformed by greater choice and more equal relationship between men and women. This transformation has occurred because: Contraception has allowed sex and intimacy rather than reproduction to become the main reason for the relationships existence Women have gained independence as a result of feminism and because of greater opportunities in education and work Giddens argues that in the pas, traditional family relationship were held together by external forces such as the laws governing marriage contract an by powerful norms against divorce and sex outside marriage Today couples are free to define their relationships themselves The pure relationship: the relationship exists solely to satisfy each partners needs

Beck: the negotiated family We now live in a ‘risk society’, people have more choice and as a result they are aware of risks. This is because making choices involves calculating the risks and rewards of different options open to us. The negotiated family do not conform to traditional family norms, but vary according to the wishes and expectations of its members, who decide what is best for themselves to negotiate. The patriarchal family has been undermined by two trends: Greater gender equality, which has challenged male domination in all spheres of life. Women now expect equality both at work and marriage Greater individualism, where peoples actions are influenced by calculations of their own self-interest than by a sense of obligation to others How might families negotiate with their members: Equal division of labour Finance: both pay same amount towards bills Share childcare Tasks outside of the home eg shopping Deciding to have children due to career focus Decision making Leisure time/ holidays

Beck: the zombie family Although in todays uncertain risk society peropl turn to the family in the hope of finding security, in reality family relationships are themselves now subject to greater risk and uncertainty than ever before For this reason, Beck describes the family as a ‘zombie category’: it appears to be alive, but in reality it is dead. People want it to be a haven of security in an insecure world, but todays family cannot provide this because of its own instability

Beck: Risk society and the zombie family Doesn’t always provide socialization/security Custody battle if parents divorce Social sometimes more positive than family Families are more disconnected-> technology Family members are more independent/selfish so we spend less time with them. Family is not as close knit anymore Family relationships are no longer based on close ties Close to our friends/peers