Theme Turn in Contemporary Sociology of the Family: The Emergence of the Sociology of Intimacy

Abstract

The early scientific studies of family generally dedicated to the structure and function of the family as a social institution, but in recent decades the family has undergone a conceptual transformation: shifting the focus from the institution of family to the intimacy and intimate relationships. The theoretical development arises from profound changes of family life in the contemporary world. Sociologists and family theorists considered these changes and noticed the need to take appropriate ways to analyze the intense complexity and diversity of of the family forms in contemporary world (single parents, same-sex marriage, white marriage or Cohabitation, etc.). Thus, they were forced to redefine the nature of their subject. Today, sociologists of family shifted their focus from structural and functional analyses of the institution of family to the quality of personal life and intimate relationships of people. They preferred the Term of “sociology of intimacy” to describe contemporary research of family. The transformation and turn of the theme in the sociology of the family could have different research and political implications. Reviewing and analyzing the theoretical developments in the sociology of the family, the article seeks to highlight a conceptual development to explain the current situation of the family knowledge in challenging with contemporary changes using the critical analysis approach.

Keywords

• family
• male-female relationships
• sociology of family
• intimacy
• personal relationships
• sociology of intimacy