Theoretical perspectives Families/Households: Postmodernist

The Postmodernist View on Families and Households

According to the postmodernist perspective, there’s a contemporary shift from traditional ‘one size fits all’ families towards a more varied range of family and household forms.
This viewpoint emphasises diversity and fluidity in family structures, rejecting the universality of traditional family forms commonly presented by functionalists.
Postmodernists argue that individuals have become ‘free agents’, who can actively choose the type of family and personal relationships they want, rather than being confined by societal norms and expectations.
The concept of a ‘pick and mix’ society highlights individuals’ freedom to select their preferred lifestyle, including relationship and family forms.

Main Features of the Postmodern Family

The postmodern family is characterised by diversity in terms of household composition, life-course patterns, and stages of family life.
Postmodernists propose that there is no longer a ‘normal’ type of family, meaning that diverse family structures (Lone parent, reconstituted, etc.) can be equally valid and functional.
Cultural relativity, a significant aspect of the postmodernist perspective, argues that the understanding of ‘family’ varies considerably across different cultures, societies, and individual experiences. Important aspects such as kinship, demands of care, and notions of responsibility can differ vastly.
Postmodern views emphasise the fragmentation and individualisation of the contemporary family, challenging the notion of a singular dominant family form.

Changes in Family and Household Structure

Social changes, such as the rise of cohabitation, same-sex marriages, single parenthood, and divorce, are critical in shaping the diverse family structures as per postmodernists.
Postmodernists believe that technology and media have contributed significantly to the evolution of family structures and relationships resulting in diverse forms like online families and relationships.
The change is not just limited to structure but also pervades the spheres of power and responsibility within the modern family, leading to more fluidity in gender roles and power relations.

Critiques of the Postmodernist Perspective

While it offers an inclusive view of family diversity, critics argue that the postmodernist perspective may overstate the extent of choice available to individuals and underestimates the power of social structures.
Some critics also argue that it underemphasizes economic factors, such as income inequality, which may limit an individual’s ‘choice’ when it comes to family structure.