One example that illustrates two of Anthony Giddens's four tensions of modernity is the impact of globalization on an individual's work-life balance. The first tension is the disembedding of social relations, which refers to the shift from local and face-to-face interactions to more impersonal and abstract ones. In the late modern world, globalization has enabled people to work and communicate with others from different parts of the world, which has led to a more disembedded work environment. This can cause individuals to feel disconnected from their work and colleagues, leading to feelings of isolation and disengagement.
The second tension is the reflexivity of modernity, which refers to the constant questioning and self-evaluation of social practices and institutions. In the context of work-life balance, the reflexivity of modernity can lead individuals to question the traditional nine-to-five workday and the separation of work and personal life. This can lead individuals to seek more flexible work arrangements, such as remote work or job-sharing, to better integrate their work and personal life.
Together, these two tensions of modernity can impact an individual's life in the late modern world by causing them to feel disconnected from their work and colleagues while also leading them to question traditional work practices and seek more flexible arrangements. This can result in a more fluid and adaptable work-life balance, but can also lead to feelings of uncertainty and anxiety about the future.