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Sociology - Family > Changing Family Patterns > Flashcards

Changing Family Patterns Flashcards

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Sociology 101 flashcards
1
Q

what is the general trend of divorce rates

A
  • since the 1960s has been an increase in divorces but has been a fall since the 1990s
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2
Q

the number of divorce was ______ in _____, about _ times higher than in _____

A
  • the number of divorce was 118,000 in 2012, about 6 times higher than in 1960
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3
Q

name the 7 explanations for the increase in divorce

A

1) changes in the law
2) declining stigma/ changing attitudes
3) secularisation
4) rising expectations of marriage
5) women’s increased financial independence
6) feminist explanations
7) modernity + individualisation

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4
Q

outline changes in the law as a cause for the rise in divorces

A
  • law changes have made divorce easier
  • 3 changes in the law: equalising grounds (reasons) for D, widening grounds, making D cheaper
  • The Matrimonial Causes Act 1923: grounds were equalised
  • introduction of legal aid 1949: lowered cost of D
  • The Divorce Reform Act 1969: widened grounds for D
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5
Q

what is an AO3 evaluation of changes in the law as a cause for the rise in divorces

A
  • doesn’t explain why more people don’t divorce
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6
Q

define stigma

A
  • stigma = a negative label, social disapproval or shame attached to a person, action or relationship
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7
Q

outline declining stigma/ changing attitudes as a cause for the rise in divorces

A
  • in the past, D was stigmtised
  • e.g. Churches condemned divorce
  • Mitchell + Goody: the rapid decline in stigma of D is the main factor in the inc of it
  • D is more normalised
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8
Q

outline 3 alternatives for divorce

A
  • desertion: where the couple are broken up but remained legally married
  • legal separation: where a court splits the financial + legal affairs without the official divorce
  • empty shell marriage: couple continues to live together but remain married in name only
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9
Q

define secularisation

A
  • secularisation = the decline in the influence of religion in society
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10
Q

outline secularisation as a cause for the rise in divorces

A
  • sociologists argue that religious institutions + ideas are losing influence and society is becoming more secular
  • e.g. church attendance continues to decline
  • due to sec., the opposition of the church to D carries less weight + people are less likely to be influenced by religious teachings when making personal decisions
  • additionally, many churches have softened their view on D - perhaps due to fear of losing public support
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11
Q

outline rising expectations of marriage as a cause for the rise in divorces

A
  • Fletcher (functionalist): says that the higher expectations placed on marriage are a big factor in the rise of D
  • HE make people less willing to tolerate an unhappy marriage
  • there’s importance placed on finding ‘the one’ - and if love dies within a relationship, there’s no reason to remain married
  • in the past, marriage was considered a contract and the family a unit of production, and so there were less HE to be dissatisfied with
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12
Q

outline women’s increased financial independence as a cause for the rise in divorces

A
  • improvements in women’s economic position have made them less financially dependent on their husbands so are therefore more free to D
  • women are more able to support themselves in the case of a D
  • Allan + Crow: marriage is less embedded within the economic system; spouses aren’t economically dependent on each other
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13
Q

the proportion of women in paid work rose from __% in _____ to __% in _____

A
  • the proportion of women in paid work rose from 53% in 1970 to 67% in 2013
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14
Q

outline feminist explanations as a cause for the rise in divorces

A
  • married women today carry a dual burden; this creates a new source of conflict between partners
  • marriage remains patriarchal, with men benefitting from women’s triple shift
  • Hochschild: for many women, the home compares unfavourably with work. at work, women feel valued, at home men’s reluctance to do housework causes marital instability
  • Bernard: many women have a growing dissatisfaction with patriarchal marriage
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15
Q

outline modernity + individualisation as a cause for the rise in divorces

A
  • Beck + Giddens: in modern society, traditional norms like the duty to have the same partner for life, loses their hold over individuals
  • individualisation thesis: as a result, individuals becomes free to pursue their self-interest and relationships become more fragile as ind.s act in their self interest
  • people seek what Giddens calls a pure relationship; one that exists to satisfy each partners needs - not out of a sense of tradition - results in more Ds
  • the inc in Ds also normalises it
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16
Q

what does the New Right say about the high divorce rate

A
  • New Right:
  • high D rate is undesirable as it undermines marriage + the traditional nuclear family which is vital for social stability
  • a high D rate creates a growing underclass of welfare dependent female lone parents who are a burden on the state + leaves boys without the role model they need
  • it also results in poorer health and education for children
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17
Q

what do Feminists say about the high divorce rate

A
  • Feminists:
  • the high D rate is desirable as it shows women are breaking free from the oppression of the patriarchal nuclear family
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18
Q

what do Postmodernists + Individualisation theorists say about the high divorce rate

A
  • Postmodernists + Individualisation theorists:
  • the high D rate shows that individuals now have the freedom to choose to end a relationship when it no longer meets their needs
  • its a major cause of family diversity
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19
Q

what do Functionalists (Fletcher) say about the high divorce rate

A
  • Functionalists/ Fletcher:
  • a high D rate isnt a threat to marriage as a social institution but is simply the result of people’s higher expectations of marriage today
  • the high rate of re-marriages shows peoples commitment to marriage
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20
Q

what do Interactionalists say about divorce

A
  • Interactionalists:
  • Morgan: the meaning of D cant be generalised, as every individuals interpretation of it is different
  • Mitchel + Goody: one interviewee said that the day her dad left was the best of her life; in contrast to another interviewee who had never recovered from her dads’ leaving
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21
Q

what does the Personal Life Perspective say about divorce

A
  • the Personal Life Perspective:
  • accepts that D can cause problems, such as financial ones, and a lack of daily contact between children + non- residential parents can be distressful
  • Smart: argues D has become normalised and that family life can adapt to it without disintegrating
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22
Q

what are the 4 general pattern of marriage rates

A
  • fewer people are marrying
  • there are more re-marriages
  • people are marrying later
  • couples are less likely to marry in churches
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23
Q

marriage rates are at their ______ since the ____

A
  • marriage rates are at their lowest since the 1920s
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24
Q

what are the 6 main reasons for changing marriage patterns

A

1) first marriages
2) changing attitudes to marriage
3) secularisation
4) declining stigma attached to marriage alternatives
5) changes in the position of women
6) fear of divorce

25
Q

outline first marriages as a reason for changing marriage patterns

A
  • many of the reasons for a fall in first marriages are similar to the reasons for the inc in divorces
  • e.g. declining stigma, secularisation, women’s increased financial independence etc
26
Q

outline changing attitudes to marriage as a reason for changing marriage patterns

A
  • there’s less pressure to marry + more freedom for individuals to choose the type of relationship they want
  • there’s more of a widespread belief that the quality of a relationship outweighs its legal status
  • the norm of getting married is significantly weakened
27
Q

outline secularisation as a reason for changing marriage patterns

A
  • churches are in favour of marriage - but with the declining influence of them, people feel freer to not marry
  • 2001 Census: only 3% of non-religious young people were married, compared to 17% of those religious
28
Q

outline declining stigma attached to marriage alternatives as a reason for changing marriage patterns

A
  • cohabitation, remaining single, having children outside of marriage, are all widely regarded as acceptable
  • 1989: 70% believed that couples who want children should get married, by 2012; only 40% thought so
29
Q

outline changes in the position of women as a reason for changing marriage patterns

A
  • with better educational and economic prospects for women, they are less economically dependent on men
  • gives them greater freedom to not marry
30
Q

outline fear of divorce as a reason for changing marriage patterns

A
  • with the rising divorce rate, some may be put off marriage as they see the increased likelihood of marriage ending in divorce
31
Q

define cohabitation

A
  • cohabitation = an unmarried couple in a sexual relationship living together
32
Q

outline the general trend of cohabiting families

A
  • the fastest growing family type
33
Q

outline 3 reasons for the rise in cohabiting

A
  • a result of the decline in stigma attached to sex outside of marriage
  • increased career opportunities for women means less need for the financial security of marriage
  • secularisation; non-religious young people are more likely to cohabit
34
Q

whats an AO3 evaluation for the rise in cohabitation

A
  • Chester: for most people, cohabitation is part of the process for getting married
  • Coast: 75% of cohabiting couples say that they expect to marry each other
35
Q

outline the concept of trial marriage

A
  • many view cohabitation as a trial marriage and intend to marry if successful
  • for some, cohabitation is a temporary phase before marriage because 1 or both partners are awaiting divorce
  • however, Bejin: cohabitation among young people represents a more conscious attempt to create a more equal relationship than conventional patriarchal marriage
36
Q

outline acceptance of same-sex relationships

A
  • there is increased social acceptance of same sex relationships
  • male homosexual acts were decriminalised in 1967
  • the law treats all couples equally
  • 2013 Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act: SS couples can marry
36
Q

outline the reasons for the rise in one-person households

A
  • the increase in separation/ divorce has increased this - esp among men under 65, as following separation, children are likely to live with the mum
  • the decline in those marrying + people marrying later, means more people remaining single
  • many may be opting for ‘creative singlehood’; the deliberate choice to live alone
37
Q

outline chosen families

A
  • Weeks: inc social acceptance explains increase in stable SS cohabitation/ relationships. gays base the idea of family based on the idea of ‘friendship as kinship’. these chosen families offer the same stability as heterosexual families
  • Einasdottir: whilst the LGBT welcome their partnerships legally recognised, others fear it may limit the negotiability of relationships
38
Q

outline one-person households stats

A
  • 2013: almost 3 in 10 households contained 1 person - 3x that of in 1961
  • pensioner 1PH have doubled since 1961
39
Q

what’s an AO3 evaluation for ‘creative singlehood’

A
  • some live alone due to the fact that there are too few partners available in their age group
  • these are mainly older widows
40
Q

outline ‘living apart together’

A
  • 2013 British Social Attitudes: 1 in 10 adults are ‘living apart together’ / LATs - they are in a significant relationship but live apart
  • this shows a trend towards less formalised relationships
41
Q

outline the 4 trends of childbearing

A
  • nearly half of children are being born outside of marriage
  • women are having children later
  • women are having fewer children than in the 20th century
  • more women are remaining childless
42
Q

outline the 3 reasons for the rise in lone parent families

A
  • inc in divorce, separation, single women having children
  • due to decline in stigma attached to births outside marriage
  • many lone mothers are single by choice; to limit father’s involvement, to not marry/ cohabit
42
Q

outline lone parent family stats

A
  • 1 in 4 children live in lone-parent families
  • over 90% of these families are matrifocal
  • a child living with a lone parent is 2x as likely to be in poverty as a child living with 2 parents
42
Q

outline for the changing trends in childbearing

A
  • there has been a decline in the stigma attached to births outside marriage
  • women have more options than just motherhood - many seek to establish a career before starting a family, instead of having children at all
42
Q

outline 3 reasons why long parent families are usually female headed

A
  • the widespread belief that women are by nature suited to an expressive/ nurturing role
  • divorce courts usually give mothers child custody
  • men may be less willing to give up work to care for children
43
Q

outline the the New Right’s view on lone parenthood, the welfare state and poverty

A
  • Murray (New Right): views the growth of LPFs as a result from an over-generous welfare state providing benefits for lone mothers
  • M says this has created a ‘perverse incentive’; it rewards irresponsible behaviour
  • the welfare state creates a ‘dependency culture’
  • Murray’s solution is to abolish benefits which would reduce the dependency culture
44
Q

what is an AO3 evaluation of the New Right view on lone parenthood, the welfare state and poverty

A
  • welfare benefits are far from generous as LPFs are much more likely to be in poverty
44
Q

outline black families

A
  • B Caribbean + African households have a higher proportion of LPFs
  • 2012: more than 50% of black families were led by LPs
  • these high rates can be traced back to slavery or high rates of unemployment among black men
  • in slavery, when couples were sold separately, the children stayed with the mother - this established a pattern that we see today
  • male unemployment means the man is less able to provide for the family - causing conflict
45
Q

outline reasons for why lone parent families are in poverty

A
  • lack of affordable childcare prevents LPs from working
  • 60% of LMs are unemployed - double that of married mothers
  • inadequate welfare benefits
  • most LPs are women ,who generally earn less than men
  • failure of fathers to pay maintenance - esp if they have a second family to support
46
Q

outline step families

A
  • stepfamilies/ reconstituted families account for over 10% of UK families
  • in stepfamilies, there is more likely to be a child from the woman rather than the man
46
Q

outline the reasons for the formation of stepfamilies

A
  • SF are formed when LPs form new partnerships; so the factors causing an increase in LPs (divorce, separation) also apply to this
  • there’s more chance of the child being from the woman rather than the man because in separation, children are more likely to stay with the mother
  • SFs are more likely to be in poverty as the parents may also have to pay for other kids
47
Q

what does Mirza say about black families

A
  • Mirza: the higher rates of black LPFs isnt the result of disorganisation, but rather the value black women place on independence
48
Q

outline Asian families

A
  • Bangladeshi, Pakistani and Indian households tend to be larger than those of other ethnic groups
  • they have an avg of 4 kids per household compared to white and black families with an avg of 2 kids
  • asian households can be extended - but most are nuclear
  • asian extended households can be a reflection of their culture but is also for practicality - e.g. for assistance when immigrating
49
Q

outline the beanpole family

A
  • beanpole family = a multi-generational family that is long and thin with few aunts, uncles and cousins
  • its extended vertically; up and down through generations of children, not horizontally; doesn’t involve aunts, uncles, cousins
50
Q

outline the extended family today

A
  • in pre-industrial society, the ext family was the dominant family type, but in modern society, the nuclear family is
  • charles: the 3 gen household is all but extinct with exceptions from the Bangladeshi community
  • Wilmott: there is now a ‘dispersed extended family’ in that relatives are geographically separate but maintain regular contact through visits + phone calls
51
Q

what are the 2 main causes of beanpole families

A
  • increased life expectancy; more surviving grandparents + great-grandparents
  • smaller family sizes; less siblings and so less horizontal ties
52
Q

outline obligation to relatives

A
  • many still feel an obligation to help their extended family
  • Finch + Mason: over 90% of people had given or received financial aid from a relative
  • Cheal: more is expected of females than males for household tasks/ caregiving

Sociology - Family (7 decks)

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