Giddens (1992): Rapoport & Rapoport (1982):

Postmodernism and the family

‘Post-Modernism’ assumes that
Choice & Equality Five Types of Family Diversity traditional structures have
Couples can define their broken down and that society is
1. Organisational Diversity much more ‘Fluid’ & is
own relationships based
2. Cultural Diversity
upon romantic love due to characterised by choice, variety
3. Social Class Diversity
the increase in
4. Life-stage Diversity and diversity
contraception and
5. Generational Diversity
independence for women

Stacey (1998): Therefore even in the nuclear family

there is greater diversity between
AO3 Evaluation
Divorce-Extended families that first suggested
Family Chester (1984) Neo-conventional
family is the most common type. This
is essentially the nuclear family
redefined and therefore less diversity
Women are more likely to maintain than thought
relationships with ex-in-laws due to access
to children – however divorced women are Jeffrey Weeks (1999): Growth in Chester (1984) Due the life-cycle many
more likely to have fictive extended people will be part of a nuclear family
families to help support them
‘Fictive families’
– single parents and reconstituted
People are beginning to redefine what families are formed from nuclear
Beck (1995): is meant by family and this can include families
friends, co-workers and even pets
Risk Society & the
Negotiated Family Post-modernism can be seen as a
fragmented approach
More conditions based upon relationships because of uncertainty
and need for romantic love rather than financial arrangements