Foucault’s account of power relations

Michael Foucault, a French philosopher of the twentiesd century, had a less obvious way of describing power then most of us are used to think of. It’s not about strict rules, imposed constraints and authorities, in other words clearly identifiable sources of power. He views power much more in relation to the individual, as personal choices but constrained by structures which are difficult to identify.
According to Foucault, power works from within us through self constraints, indirect control and ways of ‘self evident’ truths which makes it difficult for the individual to act differently. A good example would be a patient, who is willingly constrains his behaviour e.g. long periods of waiting, because of his big interest in getting advice. The ideas, expectations, assumptions ensure compliance.

For me it is difficult, to see family life in either the weberian or the foucaultian way, I see it more in a combination of the two. Families are very much ordered and re-ordered trough the social institutions acting out of their history/tradition. These institutions are more structured in the weberian sense of power relations, hierarchical top down structures with strict rules. By depending more or less on these social institutions e.g. being unemployed or ill, family life is very much ordered by the rules and constrains of these institutions. A more complex example would be the ever growing number of women in either part time or full time employment but women still in general being responsible for most of the domestic work and social family activities. The social institutions were not able up to now, to provide the necessary infrastructure e.g. adequate childcare, to help women cope adequately with this situation. Therefore, lone parents, especially women, are vulnerable to poverty among other groups in different situations. This example shows exactly how family lives are ordered by the weberian dominated social institutions but also by foucaultien circulation of power by opening up possibilities of new ways of arrangements of households and there impact on reordering family lives.

Foucault’s approach to understand power is one part of everyday power we encounter as individuals and families. Our self constraint and control because of accepted ways, self evident truths and everyday practices is a big influence on our everyday actions and behaviours. This ‘force’, this circulation of power may also influence the social institutions to a certain degree trough the individuals in power and become their everyday practice which we as individuals and families encounter through a more weberian approach of power.There fore, Foucault’s approach to power is very helpful to get a better understanding ordering and reordering family lives.