Changing family patterns

Question 1

Divorce laws

Answer 1

Equalise grounds for divorce (1923)
Divorce reform act (1969)

Question 2

Mitchell and Goody

Answer 2

Since 1960’s there has been rapid decline in the stigma against divorce. Divorce is seen as a solution to marital issues

Question 3

Allan and Crow

Answer 3

Love and fulfilment have become cornerstones of marriage. Marriage is less embedded in the economic system.

Question 4

Sigle-Rushton

Answer 4

The dual burden has led to higher divorce rates, as women are becoming independent with paid work

Question 5

Cooke and Gash

Answer 5

No evidence that working women are more likely to get a divorce

Question 6

Beck and Giddens

Answer 6

Looking for a pure relationship, with personal fulfilment, not for the sake of kids

Question 7

Morgan

Answer 7

We can’t generalise about divorce, as people experience it differently

Question 8

Smart

Answer 8

divorce has become normalised, and families are adapting

Question 9

Marriage stats

Answer 9

Cohabitation is fast growing with 15% of relationships
2.9m hetero, 69,000 homo

Question 10

Einasdottir

Answer 10

Same-sex marriage limits the flexibility of gay relationships as they adopt heterosexual norms

Question 11

Cashmore

Answer 11

Working class mothers choose to live alone because they fear abuse

Question 12

Murray

Answer 12

Lone parents lead to an underclass as they are welfare-dependent

Question 13

Mirza

Answer 13

There are more black women as lone parents due to their independent values

Question 14

Ballard

Answer 14

Asian families relied on extended networks for support in the 50s and 60s

Question 15

Finch and Mason

Answer 15

90% of people had given or received financial help, and 1/2 cared for sick relatives

Question 16

Benson

Answer 16

For 15,000 babies, the breakdown of cohabiting couples was 20% vs married couples at 5%

Question 17

Smart

Answer 17

it is poverty not cohabitation that breaks relationships down

Question 18

Chester

Answer 18

Neoconventional family, dual-eaner

Question 19

Stacey (postmodernism)

Answer 19

greater freedom and choice for women have allowed them to escape patriarchal families

Question 20

Morgan

Answer 20

pointless to generalise the family; family is up to it’s members

Question 21

Beck and Giddens

Answer 21

individualisation thesis: everyone is free to do what they want

Question 22

Einasdottir

Answer 22

Although lesbians are now tolerated, hetero-normativism encourages them to stay in the closet