Personal Life Perspective
The Personal Life Perspective argues that sociologists should study family life from the perspectives of individuals, and focus on what families mean to them. If people believe that pets and dead relatives are part of their family, the sociologists should accept this.
This is very different from traditional sociological perspectives such as Functionalism and Marxism, which tended to study the nuclear family and look at what functions this performed for the individual and society.
Applying material from the text above and your knowledge, evaluate the personal life perspective on the family (20 marks)
‘pets and dead relatives are part of their family’
PLP criticises structural theories and argues that family is not just blood or marriage
Smart argues that family can be whatever someone wants it to be - including close friends
Less people get married and have kids, forming deep relationships with others
Important to consider when looking at family diversity considering some entirely reconstruct their families
C - underestimates the nuclear family and its importance
‘functions’
Functionalists would disagree with PLP because the family needs to have a specific structure and to perform certain functions or else society will fall apart due to no social solidarity
Parsons argues in adequate socialisation from instrumental and expressive roles as well as stabilisation of adult personalities
Family must be unit of consumption
C - Zaretsky - dark side of the family
Postmodernist
No stable family life anymore due to greater freedom described in personal life perspective
Giddens and Beck argues in risk society due to things like the pure relationship - this can go hand in hand with considering friends as family and remaining unmarried as they fulfill your needs
Zombie family - looks alive but is dead as it is unstable
C - Feminists argue families where both parties are equal and have full control where the relationship is headed are good as women are less likely to be subject to triple shift