C1 SB - Families & Relationships - Topic 2, Trends - Marriage & Cohabitation

Question 1

Trends

Trends in marriage & cohabitation

Answer 1

Developments and changes over time

Mean age of marriage for men in 1972 was 28.8 years, in 2012 it was 36.5 years.

Question 2

1. Changing social attitudes

Answer 2

Cohabitation and sex before marriage is more acceptable

Question 3

1. Changing social attitudes stat

Answer 3

BSA (British social attitudes) survey (2012) - 75% thought sex before marriage was rarely wrong or not wrong at all.

Question 4

2.Decline of family values

Answer 4

Decline of marriage due to decline in traditional family values.
Patricia Morgan (2000) government do not give enough support to marriages both financially and publicly.
Cohabitation is not a replacement of marriage.

Question 5

3. Individualisation - Study - Beck & Beck Gernsheim (1995)

Answer 5

No longer bound by traditional social norms, more focused on themselves.
Alternatives to marriage = cohabitation, LAT, or staying single.

Question 6

3. Study - Giddens (1992) - transformation of intimacy

Answer 6

In the past; romantic love and lifelong commitment, duty and obligation. In the present (late modernity); confluent love. Temporary and fragile.

Question 7

Confluent love

Answer 7

Love based on intimacy and emotional commitment but only as long as both partners feel fulfilled.

Question 8

4. The changing role of women

Answer 8

Traditional marriage = patriarchal institution

Question 9

4. Study - Greer (2000) - Decline of marriage

Answer 9

Positive decline in marriage as women are now unwilling to accept oppression.

Question 10

4. Study - Sharpe - change in priorities

Answer 10

In 1976 girls wanted to get married and have children whereas in 1994 girls prioritised education and a career rather than love.

Question 11

4. Study - Langford (1999)

Answer 11

Women have not given up on marriage or love. However sees marriage as an illusion in which men use their power to control women.

Question 12

5. The continuing importance of marriage

Answer 12

People are delaying marriage, not rejecting it.
In 2012 1/3 of marriages were remarriages showing getting divorced does not scare people out of marriage.
Families headed by a married couple are still the most important.

Question 13

6. Singlehood

Answer 13

Until recently being single was seen as a negative thing. Creative singlehood - people choose to be single as a lifestyle option

Question 14

6. Study - Hall et al (1999)

Answer 14

Being single = freedom and also time to focus on their career.

Question 15

6. Study - Heath (2004) - the rise of the kipper

Answer 15

Young people continue living with their parents after education to save money.

Question 16

STATS*

Answer 16

1969 - Divorce reform act

1984 - Matrimonial Proceedings Act