CHANGING FAMILY PATTERNS

Question 1

What percentage of marriages end in divorce?

Answer 1

40%

Question 2

What are the reasons for the increase in divorce?

Answer 2

Legal changes: easier access, cheaper, equalising grounds

Less stigma

Secularisation

Higher expectations of marriage

Women’s financial independence

Question 3

How do women gain financial independence allowing them to divorce?

Answer 3

More likely to be in paid work

Greater access to education

Question 4

What changes in the law allowed divorce to be easier?

Answer 4

1969: Divorce Law Reform Act pass
1949: legal aid available, divorce more affordable
1923: grounds were equalised for men and women

Question 5

What do the New Right believe is the effect of high divorce rate?

Answer 5

Undesirable, it undermines marriage and traditional nuclear family, which is vital for social stability.
Increase in lone mothers who depend on the state, and lack male role models for their sons

Question 6

What do the feminists believe is the effect and meaning behind high divorce rates?

Answer 6

Desirable, breaking free from oppression

Question 7

What do functionalists believe is the meaning behind and effect of high divorce rates?

Answer 7

Not a threat to marriage as a social institution. This is because of the high rate of remarriages shows commitment to the idea of marriage

Question 8

What are the reasons for the decreasing marriage rates?

Answer 8

Changing attitudes
Alternatives to marriage 
Women's economic independence 
Feminism 
Rising divorce rates put women off

Question 9

What are some of the new trends in marriage patterns?

Answer 9

Many people remarry
Later marriages
Fewer church weddings

Question 10

What are some statistics on Cohabitation in couples?

Answer 10

About 1 in 8 adults are now Cohabitation

69,000 same sex Cohabitating couples

Question 11

What are some of the reasons for the increase in Cohabitation?

Answer 11

Decline in stigma

Secularisation

Increased career opportunities means less need for financial security of marriage

Question 12

What are some of the reasons the increase in one person households?

Answer 12

Increase in divorce and separation
Marrying later
Deliberate choice to live alone

Question 13

What are the statistics supporting the idea of one person households

Answer 13

2013: 3 in 10 households contained only one person

40% of one person households are over 65

Question 14

What changes have taken place in childbearing patterns?

Answer 14

Women having children later
More women remaining childless
Women having fewer children
47% of children are born outside of marriages

Question 15

What are the reasons for changes in childbearing patterns?

Answer 15

Increase in births outside marriage

Having children later, staying childless, smaller family sizes

Question 16

What are the ethnic differences in black families in family patterns

Answer 16

Have higher proportion of lone parents households

Mirza: reflects high value black women have on independence

Question 17

What are the ethnic differences in aisan families in family patterns?

Answer 17

Pakistani and Indian households tend to be larger than other ethnic groups
Tend to have extended families