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Personal Communities and Lifestyle: The Role of Family, Friends and Neighbours

In: Ways of Living

Author

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  • Betsy Blunsdon
  • Nicola McNeil

Abstract

Sociologists argue that changes in society’s institutional and traditional structures, since the 1960s, have resulted in a more ‘individualised’ society (Giddens, 1994; Beck, 1994; Beck and Lau, 2005). Proponents of this view suggest that individualisation diminishes the importance of blood family, often called ‘families of fate’, (Beck and Lau, 1995; Beck and Beck-Gernsheim, 1995) while increasing the importance of chosen relationships, such as friends and families of choice (Weeks, Heaphy and Donovan, 2001; Goss, 1997). This chapter examines the influence that families, friends and neighbours have on individuals’ lives and lifestyle in the midst of this perceived propensity towards individualisation. A qualitative study, consisting of semi-structured interviews with 40 participants (20 telephone and 20 face-to-face interviews), was conducted in early 2008. In these interviews, individuals were asked to elaborate on the nature of their relationships with friends, family and neighbours, and discuss the meaning and significance of these relationships in their lives. The purpose of the study is to ascertain the nature of these relationships, and their influence on lifestyle decisions and outcomes. This chapter presents the results of an analysis of the twenty telephone interviews.

Suggested Citation

  • Betsy Blunsdon & Nicola McNeil, 2010. "Personal Communities and Lifestyle: The Role of Family, Friends and Neighbours," Palgrave Macmillan Books, in: Paul Blyton & Betsy Blunsdon & Ken Reed & Ali Dastmalchian (ed.), Ways of Living, chapter 7, pages 147-174, Palgrave Macmillan.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:palchp:978-0-230-27399-3_7
    DOI: 10.1057/9780230273993_7
    as

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