What is a key claim of postmodernism regarding family norms?

• A. There is a single, dominant family form in contemporary society.
• B. There are many perspectives and no single normative family form.
• C. Family life is fixed and unchanging.
• D. The state dictates family arrangements.

Answer: (B)

Postmodernism argues that there is not one fixed family norm. Instead, there are many different ways people live as families, and no single model dominates across time and place. Norms become plural and shifting, shaped by culture, class, ethnicity, gender, and personal choices. This view sees a variety of family forms—nuclear, extended, reconstituted, lone-parent, cohabiting, same-sex parenting, blended families, and more—as legitimate options rather than deviations from a universal standard. Factors like divorce, adoption, assisted reproduction, and media influence contribute to a diverse landscape of family life.

Choosing this as the best answer reflects the postmodernist focus on diversity, fluid identities, and individual negotiation of family life, rather than a universal, fixed model. The other ideas imply there is one correct form, stability, or state control over families, which aligns less with the postmodern emphasis on pluralism and change.