Beck-Gernsheim (2002) argues that...

• A. Relationships enforce clear norms about modern families.
• B. There are still strict universal norms for modern relationships.
• C. Family life is standardized across society.
• D. Relationships and family life are so diverse that there are no longer any clear norms about what a modern relationship should consist of.

Answer: (D)

The idea being tested is that in late modern society, relationships and family life have become highly diverse, with no single, universal template guiding what a modern relationship should look like. Beck-Gernsheim argues that personal choice, renegotiation of identities, and the fragility of commitments mean people experiment with different forms of coupling and parenting. Traditional norms—about lifelong monogamy, clearly fixed gender roles, or a single path of family life—lose prescriptive power as individuals shape relationships around their own values and life projects. This creates a landscape of varied family forms and relationship arrangements, so there aren’t clear, shared rules about what a modern relationship must be.

In contrast, the other ideas imply stable, universal or standardized norms, which Beck-Gernsheim contends no longer apply.