2.1 - Marriage, divorce and cohabitation (Changing patterns) Flashcards
What are the trends for marriage? (3)
- Rate is decreasing
- Remarriage rate is increasing
- Average age has increased (32 in 2020 and 25 in 1971)
4 reasons why rate of marriage is decreasing
Divorce rate
Secularisation
Pure relationship
Expense
Describe why divorce rates lead to a decrease in marriage
Puts off getting married
Describe why secularisation leads to a decrease in marriage
Decline in religion
Not a religious ceremony
No social stigma with cohabitation
Describe why pure relationships lead to a decrease in marriage
Giddens - always imagine a better relationship around the corner so no longer about financial security
Describe why expenses lead to a decrease in marriage
Average wedding costs £27,000
Feminist view on changing marriage patterns
Cohabitation is positive -more choices and freedom
Gittens- no divorce process
Develop relationship without contract
New right view on changing marriage patterns
Critical of any family but nuclear
Cohabitation and other family types are wrong
Postmodernist view on changing marriage patterns
Stacey - welcomes family diversity as equal domestic arrangement
Define cohabitation
Two people in a sexual relationship living together but not married
Trends for cohabitation (3)
Increasing as process of getting married
Permanent alternative
Chester and Coast
4 reasons for increasing cohabitation trends
Get married later
Chester
Coast
Trial
4 reasons for increasing cohabitation trends -get married later
Cohabit first
4 reasons for increasing cohabitation trends -Chester
It’s a process of getting married
4 reasons for increasing cohabitation trends - Coast
3/4 of cohabiting couples expect to marry
4 reasons for increasing cohabitation trends - trial
Intend to marry if goes well, especially if have children
Divorce rate trends (2)
Increasing
7/10 requests come from women
8 reading for increasing divorce rates
Name 4
Changing women’s roles
Change in divorce laws
Rising secularisation
Role conflict
Financially and legally easier
Ideology of romantic love
Growth of privatised nuclear family
Describe role conflict in increasing divorce rates
Hart - in a capitalist society, both spouses are required to work but female is also required to do childcare and domestic chores.
Name 3 divorce laws over past century
Briefly describe them
Divorce reform act -no fault needed, no need for matrimonial offence and after 2 years of marriage
Matrimonial of causes act - adultery by either spouse and wife doesn’t have to prove additional faults
Legal aid and advice act - access to free legal aid if can’t afford a solicitor
What do feminists think on increasing divorce rates
Like it as more control and equality
7/10 women filed the divorce
What do new right think about increasing divorce rates
More single parents -> economic consequences so requires state benefit
Flood-Page -> children from non-nuclear families are more likely to be involved in delinquent behaviour
What do postmodernists think about increasing divorce rates
Bernardes - divorce is less damaging on children than a negative marriage
Beaujouan and No Bhrolchain - cohabitation is the new normal and a premarriage test of compatibility. Decease in divorce by 5th anniversary of cohabitation
Name two other types of households that are increasing
Lone person household
Living apart together
Describe lone person households
1 person lives there
Less pressure to get married
1/2 are old people
Stein - alone if a widow as few partners available in age category
Desire living apart together (LAT)
1/10 of couples
Less formalised relationships
Duncan and Phillips
Shift isn’t as significant
Not enough doing this to reject nuclear family
Name 4 types of couples that lead that Increases divorces
Culture - ethnicity and religion
Class - WC more likely
Childless couples
Married 5-7 years
