Late and Postmodern Views of Family

Late and Postmodernity:

• Late modern and postmodern eras have seen dramatic changes in the organisation and structure of family life

• Wider changes in society have brought about changes in the interactions between partners, gender roles and what we define as a family

• Late modern ideas focus on the individualisation thesis, whilst postmodern families focus on greater diversity, choice and acceptance of lifestyles

Late modern views of the family:

• Key theorists in late modern views of family life and personal relationships

  • Giddens

  • Beck and Beck-Gernsheim

  • Bauman

Beck and Beck-Gernsheim:

• Risk in society has translated into relationships- whereas, in the modern era, marriage was a life-long commitment, it has now been replaced with a range of alternatives

• Increased insecurity in society has led to the definition of a relationship as being a form of emotional refuge

• Satisfying these needs becomes a condition of relationships, what Beck refers to as a ‘negotiated family’

Bauman- Liquid Love:

• Bauman suggested relationships in late modernity are fragile and based upon consumerist transactions- liquid love

• Greater focus on the self, which leads to connections with others rather than relationships, based on satisfying needs

• Insecurity in maintaining relationships and preference for flexible relationships develop contrasting ideas of what a relationship is- freedom versus security

Evaluations of late modern views:

• The individualisation thesis is based upon ideas of free will and choice- but what impact might social connections with in-laws, family etc have?

• The structure of family networks influences our personal choices- leading to rejection of potential partners or staying with partners for fear of what people might say

• Modernist traditions remain in some social classes to either keep up appearances or for economic security

Postmodern views of family:

• Increased choice has led to increased family diversity, as has the impact of global patterns of migration on the types of families in the UK

• Postmodernity is more concerned with the experiences of individuals within families and the personal life choices that individuals make

• Greater acceptance of same-sex relationships, lone parents and those who wish not to marry or have children

Stacy- Divorce extended family:

• Stacy studied the lives of Californian women after they had divorced and looked at the relationships they developed with others and support networks that emerged

• Some women developed extended support networks from their friends who became defined as a surrogate family performing key functions

• Others maintained relationships with former partners and their relatives as a result of shared parenting

Postmodern family types:

• Growth of living apart together partnerships (LATs)- People in a relationship with a partner who was neither cohabiting nor married

• Changes in relationships have led to increasing insecurity in relationships which reduces levels of commitment- individual financial security is more valued than emotional

• Impacts of globalisation and internal migration as people move for careers put strain on traditional relationships, but increased technology means LATs can still communicate

Evaluations of postmodern approaches:

• Often the exception rather than the rule and are less widespread than in traditional relationships

• While there has been an increase in family diversity, some such as Chester would argue that traditional structures such as the adults and their children still exist

• Postmodernity is concerned with variations of choice but doesn’t take into account how social pressures shape people