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A-Level · Sociology

GSOC.AL11 The Personal Life Perspective and Late Modern Family Diversity

AQA 7192 · Calculators not allowed · about 60 minutes

Total Marks

Name: _______________________________ Date: ____ / ____ / ______

Answer ALL questions. For at least five questions you must write full sentences. Spend about 60 minutes on this pack.

Which one of the following best describes the personal life perspective on families in contemporary society?

A) It treats the family as a fixed social structure with universal roles
B) It focuses on individuals meanings, relationships and everyday practices within family life
C) It argues families are in inevitable moral decline and society is collapsing
D) It explains family behaviour only in terms of economic class relations

(Total for Question 1 is 1 mark)

Define what sociologists mean by the term 'family practices' in the context of David Morgan's work on families.

(Total for Question 2 is 2 marks)

Define the term 'families of choice' as used by Jeffrey Weeks in studies of same-sex relationships.

(Total for Question 3 is 2 marks)

Identify and explain one way Carol Smart criticises structural theories that impose a single, fixed definition of 'the family' in sociological research on family diversity.

(Total for Question 4 is 4 marks)

Identify and explain two features of Janet Finch's idea of 'displaying families' as a way people make relationships visible to others in society.

(Total for Question 5 is 4 marks)

Describe one way the personal life perspective differs from a traditional functionalist view of family roles in late modern societies.

(Total for Question 6 is 3 marks)

Describe two ways in which the personal life perspective helps explain family diversity in late modern Britain.

(Total for Question 7 is 4 marks)

Item A: A short vignette about Priya and her close network. Priya is in her thirties and lives alone. She spends Sunday evenings cooking and eating with two close friends who consider themselves 'chosen family'. Priya also visits her elderly neighbour each week and is officially registered as that neighbour's emergency contact. Priya has a strained relationship with her biological sibling and does not invite them to family events. Using Item A and your own knowledge, identify two ways this vignette illustrates concepts from the personal life perspective.

(Total for Question 8 is 4 marks)

Explain one strength of using the personal life perspective to study modern family life in the UK.

(Total for Question 9 is 2 marks)

Explain two limitations or criticisms made of the personal life perspective when applied to family research and policy.

(Total for Question 10 is 4 marks)

State one way in which Janet Finch's idea of 'displaying families' might help people in minority family forms gain social recognition.

(Total for Question 11 is 2 marks)

Compare briefly how the personal life perspective and the New Right differ in their explanations of declining traditional family forms in late modern society.

(Total for Question 12 is 4 marks)

Define what sociologists mean by a 'late modern' society in discussions of family change.

(Total for Question 13 is 2 marks)

Using Item A and your own knowledge, explain one way policy makers might need to change services to respond to families constituted by chosen relationships, not only biological kin.

(Total for Question 14 is 4 marks)

Discuss how far sociologists would agree that the personal life perspective is the most useful approach for understanding family life today in late modern societies.

In your answer you should evaluate competing perspectives, use sociological evidence and reach a supported conclusion.

(Total for Question 15 is 12 marks)

Mark scheme · GSOC.AL11 The Personal Life Perspective and Late Modern Family Diversity

Question 1

B1 B (focuses on individuals meanings, relationships and everyday practices within family life)
Answer: B

Question 2

B1 identifies family practices as routine, everyday activities and interactions that create family relationships (oe)
B1 development, e.g. these practices are how people 'do' family rather than being fixed roles or structures
Answer: Family practices are the routine, everyday activities and interactions through which people create and sustain family relationships; they are how people 'do' family rather than fixed roles or structures.

Question 3

B1 identifies families of choice as networks of close, supportive relationships people select, often beyond biological kin (oe)
B1 development, e.g. commonly used to describe how some same-sex couples form family-like bonds with friends and non-biological kin
Answer: Families of choice are networks of close, supportive relationships that people select, often beyond biological kin, and are used to describe how some same-sex couples form family-like bonds with friends or non-biological relatives.

Question 4

B1 identifies a criticism, e.g. structural theories impose a fixed, monolithic view of family that ignores people contributions and meanings
B1 explains how this is a problem, e.g. it overlooks diverse forms and the ways individuals define and live their relationships, so research misses important lived experience
B1 identifies second development, e.g. Smart argues this leads to imposing the researchers assumptions, rather than describing how people themselves experience family
B1 further explanation linking to consequence, e.g. as a result policy and theory based on such definitions may be inaccurate or exclusionary
Answer: Smart criticises structural theories for imposing a fixed definition of family that ignores how people actually experience and define relationships; this is problematic because it overlooks diverse lived forms and meanings, and can lead to inaccurate or exclusionary theory and policy.

Question 5

B1 identifies one feature, e.g. using rituals and routines such as family meals, photographs or celebrations to show family membership
B1 explains why, e.g. these displays make relationships publicly recognisable and help people claim family status
B1 identifies second feature, e.g. selective presentation, deciding which relationships to display and which to keep private
B1 explains why, e.g. selective display manages social recognition and can protect alternative family forms from stigma
Answer: Finch argues people display family by using rituals and routines like meals, photos or celebrations to make relationships publicly recognisable, and by selectively presenting some relationships while keeping others private to manage social recognition and avoid stigma.

Question 6

B1 identifies difference, e.g. functionalism treats family as a fixed institution with universal roles, while personal life focuses on meanings and relationships
B1 development, e.g. functionalists emphasise functions such as socialisation and stability, personal life sees people negotiating roles in everyday life
B1 further development or example, e.g. personal life would study how people create family through practices rather than assume a fixed nuclear role pattern
Answer: Unlike functionalism which treats the family as a fixed institution with universal roles and emphasises functions like socialisation, the personal life perspective focuses on meanings and relationships and studies how people negotiate roles through everyday practices.

Question 7

B1 identifies one way, e.g. it recognises chosen relationships and friendships as family-like, beyond blood ties
B1 development, e.g. this accounts for same-sex households and close non-kin networks being family for some people
B1 identifies second way, e.g. it explores how everyday practices and displays create family identity in many diverse settings
B1 development, e.g. this explains why people in similar household structures may have very different experiences of family
Answer: The personal life perspective recognises chosen relationships and friendships as family-like, helping explain same-sex households and non-kin networks, and it shows how everyday practices and displays create family identity, explaining why similar household forms can have different family experiences.

Question 8

B1 identifies one concept illustrated, e.g. Priya's friends are an example of families of choice or chosen kin
B1 development, e.g. their Sunday evenings and mutual care show how everyday practices produce family bonds
B1 identifies second concept, e.g. the neighbour being an emergency contact shows kin-like obligations created through social ties rather than blood
B1 development, e.g. this reflects how personal life perspective values relationships and care beyond biological family
Answer: Priya's Sunday meals with friends illustrate families of choice, showing how everyday practices produce family bonds; her role as emergency contact for a neighbour shows kin-like obligations created through social ties rather than biology, both key ideas in the personal life perspective.

Question 9

B1 identifies a strength, e.g. it captures diversity and subjective meanings often missed by structural approaches
B1 development, e.g. this yields richer, more realistic accounts of how people experience relationships in late modern society
Answer: A strength is that the personal life perspective captures diversity and subjective meanings missed by structural approaches, producing richer, more realistic accounts of how people experience relationships today.

Question 10

B1 identifies one limitation, e.g. it may underplay structural influences like economic class or patriarchy
B1 develops this, e.g. critics say focusing on meanings can obscure how power and inequality shape choices
B1 identifies second limitation, e.g. it can be hard to generalise from detailed qualitative studies to wider populations
B1 develops this, e.g. this limits the perspective's usefulness for forming broad public policy
Answer: Limitations include underplaying structural factors such as class or patriarchy, since focusing on meanings can obscure how power shapes choices, and difficulty generalising from detailed qualitative work, which limits usefulness for broad policy-making.

Question 11

B1 identifies a way, e.g. deliberate public displays like inviting friends to events or showing family photos to claim family status
B1 brief development, e.g. this can reduce stigma and make their relationships visible and understood by others
Answer: By deliberately presenting relationships through public displays, such as inviting friends to family events or showing photographs, people in minority family forms can claim family status and reduce stigma by making their relationships visible and understood.

Question 12

B1 identifies personal life perspective view, e.g. sees change as diverse redefinitions of family based on meanings and practices
B1 explains this, e.g. change is not decline, it is people forming new family types through social practices
B1 identifies New Right view, e.g. sees changes as harmful decline from the ideal nuclear family and linked to social problems
B1 explains contrast, e.g. New Right blames moral failure and policy, whereas personal life highlights agency and diversity
Answer: The personal life perspective treats changing family forms as diverse redefinitions based on meanings and everyday practices, not decline, while the New Right sees such changes as a harmful decline from the nuclear family caused by moral failure and poor policy. This contrasts agency and diversity with a moral panic about family breakdown.

Question 13

B1 identifies late modern as a recent phase of modernity marked by rapid social change, individualisation and greater choice (oe)
B1 development, e.g. in family studies it highlights greater instability and diversity in relationships and household forms
Answer: Late modern refers to a recent phase of modernity characterised by rapid social change, individualisation and greater choice; in family studies it highlights increased instability and diversity in relationships and household forms.

Question 14

B1 identifies a policy implication, e.g. recognising non-biological carers in benefit, health and social care rules
B1 explains link to Item A, e.g. Priya acting as emergency contact and providing care shows non-kin perform caring roles
B1 develops with effect, e.g. policy could broaden definitions of family to include chosen kin so services and rights reach those who provide care
B1 further development, e.g. this could improve welfare support and recognition for informal carers outside biological families
Answer: Policy makers might broaden legal and service definitions of family to recognise non-biological carers, since Item A shows people like Priya provide kin-like care and emergency support; this would allow benefits, health and social care provisions to reach informal carers among chosen kin and improve support.

Question 15

Level 1 (1-3): Basic statements about the personal life perspective with little or no development or comparison. Limited use of evidence and no clear conclusion.
Level 2 (4-6): Some developed points about the personal life perspective and one other view. Some use of evidence and a partial conclusion, but evaluation is limited in depth or balance.
Level 3 (7-9): Clear evaluation that contrasts the personal life perspective with other relevant perspectives such as functionalism, Marxism or the New Right. Good use of sociological examples and evidence. A reasoned conclusion is presented.
Level 4 (10-12): Thorough and balanced evaluation. Candidates consider strengths and limitations of the personal life perspective, compare it with several alternative perspectives, use appropriate evidence and theory, and reach a well-supported judgement about how far sociologists would agree.
Indicative content:
- AO1 points: outline the personal life perspective: focus on meanings, relationships, family practices, families of choice, displaying families; key names Smart, Morgan, Finch, Weeks.
- AO2 application: show how these ideas explain diversity, chosen kin networks, everyday practices making family, and implications for understanding non-traditional households.
- AO3 evaluation strengths: captures subjective meanings, explains diversity, highlights care and emotion, useful for qualitative research and policy recognising non-kin carers.
- AO3 evaluation limits: may underplay structure, inequality and power such as class, gender and economic constraints; problems of generalisability from qualitative work; critics argue it is descriptive and offers less explanation of causes.
- Compare with functionalism: functionalism emphasises stability and universal roles, different view of family functions; personal life rejects fixed role assumptions.
- Compare with New Right: New Right sees decline and harm from non-nuclear families, personal life sees diversity and agency.
- Compare with Marxism and feminist perspectives: Marxism stresses class and capitalist economic forces shaping family, feminism emphasises patriarchy and power within families; personal life may be complemented by these structural accounts.
- Evidence: refer to studies of chosen families, qualitative work showing everyday practices, and limitations noted in empirical critiques such as small samples or lack of attention to inequality.
- Conclusion: balanced judgement such as the personal life perspective is highly useful for understanding meanings and diversity but should be used alongside structural perspectives to explain patterns and causes.

The Personal Life Perspective and Late Modern Family Diversity - Worksheets, Questions and Revision