1.2 divorce Flashcards
Divorce is a major cause of changing what?
Family diversity it creates lone parent families, reconstituted families and single person households
In 2001 the divorce rate was how many times higher than in 1961?
6x
According to the ONS how many of current marriages will end in divorce?
42%
What type of marriage is twice as likely to end in divorce?
Teen marriage
There is a higher rate of divorce for couples when?
In the first 5 years of marriage
Which class has a higher rate of divorce?
The working class
What ethnicity has a lower divorce rate?
Asians
What type of couples have a higher divorce rate?
Childless
(Law changes) law changes have made what easier?
Divorce
(Law changes) what has happened to divorce with each law change?
Increased
(Law changes) the 1949 legal aid act did what?
Provides financial help for legal fees in divorce
Ordinary people could afford to get divorced
(Law changes) the 1969 divorce law reform act meant you no longer had to do what?
Prove matrimonial offence divorce was possible through irretrievable breakdown
Divorce was easier and more accessible
(Law changes) the 1984 matrimonial proceedings act reduced what?
The time for which a couple had to be married before they could petition for divorce (3 years to 1)
Divorce easier
(Law changes) law changes have given people the opportunity to divorce but don’t explain what?
Why people divorce
(Stigma) what is stigma?
Social disapproval
(Stigma) in the past how was divorce seen?
Scandalous
(Stigma) stigma has declined making divorce what?
More socially acceptable
(Stigma) divorce has become more common normalising it and reducing what?
Stigma
(Secularisation) what is secularisation?
The declining influence of religion in society
(Secularisation) traditionally the church have been what to divorce?
Opposed to divorce
(Secularisation) people are less likely to be influenced by religious teachings when considering what?
Divorce
(Secularisation) the church has began to do what to divorce?
Soften its teachings
(Rising expectations) fletcher says higher expectations placed on marriage are a major cause of what?
Rising divorce rates
(Rising expectations) couples are less likely to tolerate what?
Unhappy marriages
Empty shell marriages
(Rising expectations) in the past marriages were arranged for what?
Economic reasons
(Rising expectations) now marriage is seen now?
Relationship where individuals seek personal fulfilment
(Changing position of women) who mainly seek divorce?
Women
(Changing position of women) women are less what than in the past?
Financially dependent on husbands
(Changing position of women) why are women not financially dependent upon their husband?
Paid work
Equal pay act
Education success - better jobs
Benefits
(Changing position of women) women are able to support themselves in the event of what?
A divorce
(Changing position of women) feminists a marriage remains what?
Patriarchal - men benefit from wives triple shift
(Changing position of women) feminists - women taking on the role of wage earners and home makers has led to what?
Conflict
(Changing position of women) Hochschild - men’s resistance to doing housework is what?
A source of frustration making the marriage less stable
(Changing position of women) Hochschild - both partners working means less time for the emotion work to do what?
Address problems that arise
(Changing position of women) Bernard - women are more conscious about what?
Patriarchal oppression which they are rejecting
(Individualisation, choice and conflict) beck and beck-g argue rising divorce rates are due to what?
Changing world where traditional ideas about relationships don’t apply
(Individualisation, choice and conflict) what is individualisation?
Individuals seek a self pleasing lifestyle - they pursue what makes them happy
Divorce if they aren’t happy
(Individualisation, choice and conflict) we have greater choice regarding what?
Lifestyle and living arrangements
(Individualisation, choice and conflict) there is more potential for conflict due to what?
Clash of self interests encouraged by individualisation
What did giddens talk about and how does this link to divorce?
Confluent love
Relationships are temporary and fragile partners leave if their emotional needs aren’t fulfilled
Why is it difficult to say if there are more relationship breakdowns now?
Couples in he past would separate and remain married or remain in empty shell marriages due to the difficulty and stigma of divorce
What do the new right think of divorce?
Undesirable
Undermines the nuclear family
What do feminists think of divorce?
Desirable
Women breaking free from patriarchal oppression
What do postmodernists think of divorce?
Gives individuals freedom to end relationships they are no longer happy with
We live in a postmodern society characterised by choice
How do functionalists see divorce?
Doesn’t prove marriage is threatened only shows rising expectations
What do interactionists aim to understand about divorce?
What it means to the individual
