Changing Family pattern

Question 1

What are some of the Major changes within the family in the past 40 or 50 years?

Answer 1

• Number of Trad nuclear family has fallen
• divorce rates have increased
• people marrying later in life
• more couples co-habiting
• same- sex marriage legally recognised
• lone parent families
• women having children later and fewer
• step families

Question 2

Since the 1960’s there has been a great increase in the number of divorces in the UK

Answer 2

Between 1961 - 1969 the number of divorces doubled, then doubled again by 1972

Question 3

What percent of all marriages end in divorce?

Answer 3

40%

Question 4

One reason for the fall in divorces since the 1990s is that…

Answer 4

fewer people are marrying in the first place and are choosing to cohabit instead.

Question 5

What are the 7 explanations for the increase in divorce?

Answer 5

1) Changes in law
2) Declining stigma and changing attitudes
3) Secularisation
4) Higher expectations of marriage
5) Women’s financial independence
6) Feminists explanations
7) Modernity and individualisations

Question 6

Changes in law

Answer 6

in the 19th century divorce was very difficult to obtain , especially by women

Question 7

What are the 3 kinds of change in the law

Answer 7

• equalising the grounds
• widening the grounds
• making divorce cheaper

Question 8

What happened when divorce when divorced was equalised in 1923 and when the grounds were widened in 1971?

Answer 8

1923- sharp increase in petitions

1971- made divorce easier to obtain, figures doubled over night

Question 9

What happened when legal aid was introduced for divorce in 1949?

Answer 9

it lowered the costs and rates increased.

Question 10

What are the other solutions to divorce;

Answer 10

1) Desertion ( when one partner leaves another but they are still legally married)
2) Legal separation ( When a court separates the financial and legal affairs of the couple but they are still married)
3) Empty shell marriage (Where the couple continue to live under the same roof but remain married in name only)

Question 11

However,, as divorce become easier to obtain , these solutions have become less popular.

Answer 11

A03: This does not explain why people choose to take advantage of this freedom

Question 12

2) Declining stigma and changing attitudes

Answer 12

in the past, divorce was stigmatized. However since the 60’s this stigma has declined rapidly making divorce more socially acceptable.
The fact that divorce has become more common begins to “normalise” it, therefore further reducing stigma.

Question 13

3) Secularisation (Theorists)

Answer 13

WILSON argues religious institutions and ideas are loosing influence. Alongside this some churches are now more tolerant of divorce.

Question 14

4) Higher expectations of marriage

Answer 14

Fletcher argues that higher expectations of marriage today are leading to higher divorce rates, this is linked to the ideology of romantic love..

Question 15

Higher expectations - Ideology of expectations of love

Answer 15

This is the belief that marriage should be based solely on love instead on duty or economic factors as it was in the past. So if the love dies, there is no longer any reason to stay together.

In the past, the family was a unit of production therefore people had lower expectations as marriage took place for economic purposes.

Question 16

A03; fletchers view on higher expectations of marriage

Answer 16

Fletcher is optimistic. Despite high divorce rates, the high rate of re marriage suggests we haven’t rejected marriage.

Question 17

5) Women’s Financial independence

Answer 17

More women are now in paid work and lone parent welfare benefits are available.
This makes women less economically dependent on their husbands and more able to afford divorce.

Question 18

6) Feminist explanations

Answer 18

For feminists, Women becoming wage earners creates a new source of material conflict.
At work, women are increasingly likely to be treated equally (equal pay, anti-discrimination laws) Whereas at home they are still expected to perform a triple shift.

Therefore, for feminist the awareness of patriarchal oppression at home may result in divorce, explaining why most petitions come from women.

Question 19

Research for feminists explanations

Answer 19

Women who work are more likely to divorce than housewives who follow of tradition gender division labour.

Question 20

Modernity & individualisation (Beck & Giddens)

Answer 20

Beck & Giddens argue that in late modernity traditional norms loose their hold e.g staying with the same partner for life, instead individuals are free to pursue their own self interest.

Question 21

Modernity & individualisation (Giddens)

Answer 21

Giddens argues we seek the “Pure relationship”. This results in more divorce because individuals are less willing to stay married if the marriage fails to deliver personal fulfilment

Question 22

Modernity & individualisation - Modernity.

Answer 22

Modernity encourages both sexes to pursue their own careers which can cause conflict. Finally, modernity encourgaes people to adopt a liberal consumeristic identity based on self interest which can also pull couples apart.

Question 23

The new rights view on divorce

Answer 23

They believe a high divorce rate is undesirable as it undermines the nuclear family which they regard as vital to social solidarity.
Also, a high divorce rate creates lone parent who are a burden on the state and leaves boys without they role model that they need.

Question 24

FEMS view on divorce

Answer 24

They see a high divorce rate as desirable as it shows women are breaking free from oppressive relationships

Question 25

FUNCS view on divorce

Answer 25

argue that the high divorce rate is not a threat to the institution of marriage, as there are many re marriages

Question 26

PLP view on divorce

Answer 26

They accept that divorce can cause problems e.g. lack of contact with children and financial issues. BUT, they do realise that divorce can be the answer for some couples and point out that divorce has become so normalised its part of the life course.