Changing attitudes

Question 1

Give one reason for the change in attitudes towards each of the below:

• Marriage
• Divorce
• Family life
• Homosexuality

Answer 1

Of the below:

• More sex before marriage
• More cohabiting rather than marriage
• Average marital age has increased
• Most marriages not in a church
• Divorce is acceptable
• More single parents and re-constituted families
• More children have parents that aren’t married
• Homosexuals now have the right to civil partnerships
• Society treats homosexuals the same as heterosexuals

Question 2

Give two reasons for the attitude change toward cohabitation and marriage.

Answer 2

Any two of the below:

• effective contraception allows easier sex before marriage
• Fewer people going to church and so aren’t encouraged to keep sex for marriage
• Media made cohabitation and sex outside marriage look respectable and so it became popular

Question 3

Give two reasons for the attitude change toward divorce.

Answer 3

Any two of the below:

• New laws, divorce > cheap + easy
• Female independence meant women could support themselves
• People were less likely to be married for their whole lives
• Increased equality for women meant women were no longer prepared to accept unequal treatment (domestically)

Question 4

Give two reasons for the attitude change toward family life.

Answer 4

Any two of the below:

• Popularity of cohabitation, more families where parents aren’t married
• increase in divorce = increase in cohabitation and re-constituted families
• Women in employment using grandparents for childcare

Question 5

Give two reasons for the attitude change toward homosexuality.

Answer 5

Any two of the below:

• Changes in the law > openly homosexual and more awareness
• Medical research showing homosexuality is natural
• Media and celebrities accepting gay people
• Work of gay rights organisations leading to more acceptance