POSTMODERNISM

Starter: On your hand-out try & identify the

relevance of these pictures & what
POSTMODERNISM could be about?

POSTMODERNISM
It is an approach that looks to understand society by
focusing on rapid change and uncertainty in our
society.
Postmodernists would say that we can no longer talk
about established institutions such as:

For example we see and

think about
The Family in a
different way these
days, family structure,
roles and relationships
within the family can be
diverse, there is no
longer a Typical Family

Family

Religion

Economy

.because nothing is staying the same anymore

Postmodernists say society now is much less stable
now, more fragmented and fast changing which
causes uncertainty & chaos within our societies

POSTMODERNISM:
FRAGMENTED SOCIETY
In the past life was very different to what we
experience today.
Everyone had their own roles, responsibilities and
places within society.
Women had a place in the home, they were the
Today
We can make our
own choices and
decide
what path we wish to
take despite our
gender both men &
women work and
have a right to
eduction & we are

carers of the family.

Men had a place as head of the family, they went to
work and has a right to education unlike women.
There was a fixed structure to life

We have gone from

This

This

POSTMODERNISM
In modern industrial society:

Social institutions (Families & Communities)

Social Roles (Family Roles)
And beliefs (Strict Religion)
that people held were very straight forward and
rigid.
For example whole
communities would
gather together on
Sunday to attend
church

Postmodernists believe that this is now a thing of

the past.

We have gone from

This

This

POSTMODERNISM
Employment
In the past people would take on a Job for life but
nowadays very rarely do people begin a job that they
see as a Job for life.
Working life today, just like social life today is
unpredictable, less certain and risky.
Postmodernists argue
that society is no longer
based upon stable,
permanent social
institutions that people
can base their lives
around like they did in
the past.

Not only just from an employers perspective but as

a personal social perspective too, today we have
more choice to change our minds and
take risks

We have gone from

This

This

Your Turn!
Discuss the following questions in pairs & note your answers
down in your hand-outs.
1. What types of family can you identify in society now?
Discuss this and makes lists of all the different family types that you are aware of
or part of
2. Do you think there is a TYPICAL family type?
3. What do you think would happen in society if:
The number of marriages fell rapidly?
Civil Partnerships (Same sex) were widely accepted by all religions & cultures
Divorce rates grew rapidly?
There was a large rise in single parent families?

You have 7 minutes

POSTMODERNISM:
HEALTH & ILLNESS
Health & Illness has changed over time
Traditionally
Societies would explain illness through
superstition and religion.
For example ill health would be due to

Nowadays we focus on
Modern medicine rather
than prayer and fate

Evil Sprits or Gods

will

POSTMODERNISM:
HEALTH & ILLNESS
In Modern Society:
MOST societies now explain things
scientifically and there is usually a preferred
or best way of curing or helping health &
illness.
Modern society refer to modern medicine
Eg. Antibiotics

So. We have gone from

This

This

POSTMODERNISM:
HEALTH & ILLNESS
Postmodern societies are characterised by
diversity and fragmentation.
In a postmodern society people can pick and
mix from a range of traditional and modern
therapies

Can you think of any examples?

E.g. Someone suffering from Cancer may use
Modern Medicine but also use
Traditional Methods of treatment such as aromatherapy & acupuncture

POSTMODERNISM: CONSUMER
BASED VIEW OF HEALTH CARE

Due to the mass use of health care in the UK today

(the NHS) and the fact that we all pay into the Health
care system we are viewed as consumers.
Because of this we can choose which
Hospitals, Doctors, Specialist, Consultants etc
That we are referred to.
Today
We can also buy into
Private Health Care
Eg.

This is very different to the way things were

traditionally dealt with
When Health care was only for the rich.
Poor people could die from the common cold due to
not being able to access healthcare

WHAT DOES THE

POSTMODERN
PERSPECTIVE THINK
ABOUT SOCIETY?

HOW HAS HEALTH

& ILLNESS
TREATMENT
CHANGED OVER
TIME?

WHY DO YOU THINK

THIS IS?

WHAT IS MEANT BY
A FRAGMENTED
SOCIETY?

WHAT IS MEANT BY
A CONSUMER
BASED VIEW OF
HEALTHCARE?

ASSIGNMENT 1: PERSPECTIVES
P1
You can now complete the
Postmodernism part of your P1
Assignment

150 Words 200 Words

Outline the postmodernism

approach to society, include
information on how health and
illness has changed over time.

Outline what is meant by a

Fragmented Society and a
Consumer Based View of
Healthcare

TO CONSOLIDATE LEARNING OF
SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES
Complete the table which covers all 7 perspectives looked at The
key words are in bold
Cut & Stick to complete the table to consolidate the past 4 weeks
of learning