2.1 - Marriage, divorce and cohabitation (Changing patterns)

Question 1

What are the trends for marriage? (3)

Answer 1

• Rate is decreasing
• Remarriage rate is increasing
• Average age has increased (32 in 2020 and 25 in 1971)

Question 2

4 reasons why rate of marriage is decreasing

Answer 2

Divorce rate
Secularisation
Pure relationship
Expense

Question 3

Describe why divorce rates lead to a decrease in marriage

Answer 3

Puts off getting married

Question 4

Describe why secularisation leads to a decrease in marriage

Answer 4

Decline in religion
Not a religious ceremony
No social stigma with cohabitation

Question 5

Describe why pure relationships lead to a decrease in marriage

Answer 5

Giddens - always imagine a better relationship around the corner so no longer about financial security

Question 6

Describe why expenses lead to a decrease in marriage

Answer 6

Average wedding costs £27,000

Question 7

Feminist view on changing marriage patterns

Answer 7

Cohabitation is positive -more choices and freedom

Gittens- no divorce process
Develop relationship without contract

Question 8

New right view on changing marriage patterns

Answer 8

Critical of any family but nuclear

Cohabitation and other family types are wrong

Question 9

Postmodernist view on changing marriage patterns

Answer 9

Stacey - welcomes family diversity as equal domestic arrangement

Question 10

Define cohabitation

Answer 10

Two people in a sexual relationship living together but not married

Question 11

Trends for cohabitation (3)

Answer 11

Increasing as process of getting married
Permanent alternative
Chester and Coast

Question 12

4 reasons for increasing cohabitation trends

Answer 12

Get married later
Chester
Coast
Trial

Question 13

4 reasons for increasing cohabitation trends -get married later

Answer 13

Cohabit first

Question 14

4 reasons for increasing cohabitation trends -Chester

Answer 14

It’s a process of getting married

Question 15

4 reasons for increasing cohabitation trends - Coast

Answer 15

3/4 of cohabiting couples expect to marry

Question 16

4 reasons for increasing cohabitation trends - trial

Answer 16

Intend to marry if goes well, especially if have children

Question 17

Divorce rate trends (2)

Answer 17

Increasing

7/10 requests come from women

Question 18

8 reading for increasing divorce rates

Name 4

Answer 18

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

Question 19

Describe role conflict in increasing divorce rates

Answer 19

Hart - in a capitalist society, both spouses are required to work but female is also required to do childcare and domestic chores.

Question 20

Name 3 divorce laws over past century

Briefly describe them

Answer 20

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

Question 21

What do feminists think on increasing divorce rates

Answer 21

Like it as more control and equality

7/10 women filed the divorce

Question 22

What do new right think about increasing divorce rates

Answer 22

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

Question 23

What do postmodernists think about increasing divorce rates

Answer 23

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

Question 24

Name two other types of households that are increasing

Answer 24

Lone person household

Living apart together

Question 25

Describe lone person households

Answer 25

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

Question 26

Desire living apart together (LAT)

Answer 26

1/10 of couples
Less formalised relationships

Duncan and Phillips

Shift isn’t as significant
Not enough doing this to reject nuclear family

Question 27

Name 4 types of couples that lead that Increases divorces

Answer 27

Culture - ethnicity and religion
Class - WC more likely
Childless couples
Married 5-7 years