Sociology – Paper 2 – Theories of the family and social change | e-Consult
Paper 2 – Theories of the family and social change (1 questions)
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Post‑modernist theories challenge the idea of a single, universal family form by emphasising fluidity, hybridity and the constructed nature of family meanings.
- Strengths:
- Highlights the legitimacy of non‑traditional families (e.g., same‑sex couples, co‑habiting partners, blended families).
- Encourages reflexivity about how cultural narratives shape our definitions of “family”.
- Provides analytical tools to examine how media, discourse and identity politics influence family practices.
- Limitations:
- Can over‑emphasise individual choice and under‑play structural constraints such as economic inequality.
- Risk of relativism that makes it difficult to critique harmful family practices (e.g., domestic abuse) if all forms are seen as equally valid.
- Often lacks a clear methodological framework for empirical research, limiting its policy relevance.
Overall, post‑modernism expands our conceptual toolkit for recognising family diversity, but its tendency to downplay material conditions and power differentials means it should be combined with other perspectives for a fuller analysis.