10 Markers: Divorce

Question 1

Outline and explain two
reasons for the increase
in the divorce rate since
the 1960s [10 marks]

Answer 1

1. Point: As society changes, expectations and norms change. A
   potential reason for the increase in divorce rates is due to
   rising expectations within marriages.
   Explain: This is linked with ideology changes.
   Evidence: Functionalist Fletcher proposes that the higher
   expectations people place on marriage is a major cause of
   rising divorce rates.
   Analysis: The ideology of romantic love has become more
   dominant. It suggests that marriage should be founded on love
   and if the love dies, spouses can divorce in hope of finding
   their new soulmate. This is a stark contrast to the past,
   traditional families were a unit of production and marriages
   were bound upon economic dependency and duties.
   Consequently, couples were more likely to tolerate a lack of
   intimacy due to their low expectations unlike today’s society.
   Today marriage is no longer seen as a binding contract but as
   an act of personal fulfilment which can increase the chances of
   divorce if individuals are unsatisfied.
2. Point: Another potential reason for the increase in divorce
   rates is due to the improvement of the financial position of
   women.
   Explain: Women have gradually become less financially
   dependent on men and this grants them freedom to end
   unsatisfactory marriages.
   Evidence: This is supported by Allan and Crow, they argue that
   ‘marriage is less embedded within the economic system’
   Analysis: This implies that the family is no longer a unit of
   production, so spouses are no longer dependent on one
   another financially. Through better educational opportunities,
   women have access to their own source of income which
   allows them to not tolerate tense marriages or the absence of
   love, they can choose to seek out divorce whilst being able to
   support themselves economically.