Changing Marital and Family Patterns: A Test of the Post-Modern Perspective

Abstract

"Four central constructs of the post-modern perspective are extended and tested using secondary analysis of [U.S.] Census data and the NORC General Social Survey: 1972-94 data sets. The modified postmodern themes of: (1) the decline of a single universal family organizational standard, and (2) growing cultural diversity...were supported by examining changes in American family structure, attitudes toward such structural changes, and changing attitudes toward marital and family patterns over the last quarter century. However, little support was found for the greater use of, and reliance on, (3) the mass media. Mixed results were found on the fourth construct, greater variance in, and/or loss of, personal happiness or personal or family life satisfaction."

Which Chinese Creators are Famous and why: Views from Hong Kong and Mainland Chinese Students

“…Among the creative elite, sex makes no further difference in the recognized qualities. This finding offers support to the modernization thesis about sexual equality, as women's social status is comparable to that of men in Western (Jacques, 1998) and Chinese societies (Shu & Bian, 2002). In this connection, male and female students do not predominantly prefer creators of their own sex.…”

Family decision at the turn of the century: has the changing structure of households impacted the family decision‐making process?

“…Reports by Jacques (1998) and Hamburg (1993), citing many of the same reasons, also demonstrate that the family has changed. In the former study, Jacques notes that many relationships are now fluid and uncertain.…”

Postmodern and Modern Value Orientations and Life Satisfaction Among Hong Kong Chinese

“…Conceivably, income and being in the underclass provided the monetary and time resources for one to enjoy cultural activities. Conversely, people of upper classes might not be satisfied with the popular culture in Hong Kong that tends to follow the trend of consumerist culture (Jacques, 1998). On the other hand, people of working and upper classes can afford to enjoy the economic aspects of life.…”

“…The present research study is necessary to answer the question, so as to ascertain the significance of modernization and postmodernization in Hong Kong. Postmodernization refers to change at a societal level that extends beyond modernization and pervades the economic, political, and cultural arenas (Crook, Pakulski, & Waters, 1992;Inglehart, 1997). Economically, postmodernization develops in terms of the deepening of media power, consumerism, decentralized industrial development, the service sector, flexible work, product differentiation, and contingent employment (Gartman, 1998;Jacques, 1998). Politically, postmodernization arises from transnational political influence, democratization, privatization, declining government and public welfare, and the end of uniform ideology (Inglehart, 2000;Leonard, 1997).…”