changing family patterns

Question 1

What did Chandler find out about divorce rates?

Answer 1

• 40% of marriages will end in divorce
• 7/10 of applications for divorce come from women

Question 2

What are the five reasons to why divorce is increasing?

Answer 2

• changes in the position of women
• secularisation
• changing attitudes
• rising expectations
• changes in the law

Question 3

How have changes in the law affected divorce?

Answer 3

• divorce is cheaper, equal and easier

Question 4

Why have rising expectations influenced divorce trends?

Answer 4

• fletcher – we place too high expectations on our marriages which is why they fail
• people have more choice and freedom to who they marry

Question 5

How have changing attitudes influenced divorce trends?

Answer 5

• Mitchell & Goody – there has been a declining stigma attached to divorce

Question 6

How have changes in womens’ position influenced divorce trends?

Answer 6

• women are less financially dependent on their husbands

Question 7

What is an evaluation for the 5 reasons for increased divorce trends?

Answer 7

• changes in the law – its still expensive
• rising expectations – patronising, many people know marriages aren’t perfect
• declining stigma – still stigma around divorce
• secularisation – religion is increasing globally
• position of women – still not equal

Question 8

Why is the age people get married increasing?

Answer 8

• people spend more time in education and establishing a career

Question 9

What are the 5 reasons why marriage is decreasing?

Answer 9

• one person households
• same-sex relationships
• cohabitation
• fear of divorce
• declining stigma attached to alternatives to marriage

Question 10

What are the statistics attached to cohabitation?

Answer 10

• number of couples cohabitating has increased in the UK with abut 25% of all unmarried adults under 60 cohabiting - double the number in 1986

Question 11

What are the reasons for the increase in cohabitation?

Answer 11

• decline in stigma
• women don’t need to financially depend on men
• secularisation

Question 12

What are the statistics related to homosexual relationships?

Answer 12

• stonewall – around 5-7% of adults in Britain are in same-sex relationships

Question 13

What two family types are on the rise because of rising divorce?

Answer 13

• reconstituted families
• lone parent families

Question 14

What does the New Right believe about lone-parent families?

Answer 14

• bad for society
• the generous welfare system means people aren’t fussed about getting pregnant while single or getting a divorce

Question 15

Why are the four reasons why black families more likely to be lone-parent and female-headed?

Answer 15

• high unemployment
• independence of women
• incorrect statistics
• slave trade

Question 16

How does high unemployment influence black familial structure?

Answer 16

• black men are more likely to be unemployed and in poverty
• if they aren’t able to provide it may lead to marital breakdown

Question 17

How does the independence of women influence black familial structure?

Answer 17

• Mirza – rather than any negative reasons its because black women have a higher opinion on their independence

Question 18

How do incorrect statistics influence black familial structure?

Answer 18

• Reynolds – the rate of black single families is inflated
• many are in supportive non-cohabitating relationships

Question 19

What two things are Asian families more likely to be and why?

Answer 19

• larger in size
• be extended families
• deep respect for the elderly

Question 20

How might the slave trade influence black familial structure?

Answer 20

• families were split up with the children staying with the mother