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sociology - family > Changing family patterns > Flashcards

Changing family patterns Flashcards

1
Q

divorce AO2

A

the number of divorces had doubled between 1961 and 1969

65% of applications for divorce come from women

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2
Q

explanations for the increase in divorce (7)

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

explanations for the increase in divorce - declining stigma and changing attitudes

A

stigma refers to a negative label , shame or social disapproval attached to a person/ relationship - divorce in the past was stigmatised
e.g churches often refused to marry if it involved divorcees

as stigmas decline more couples resort to it

when its more common - it normalises it

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4
Q

explanations for the increase in divorce - secularisation

A

As less people attend church
their opposition to divorce carries less
weight in society

people are less likely
to be influence by
religious teachings.

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5
Q

explanations for the increase in divorce - rising expectations of marriage

A

functionalists see that higher expectations make couples less willing to tolerate an unhappy marriage

marriage should be based solely on love

in the past expectations were lower because individuals had little choice over who they married and marriages were done for economic reasons - so people are less likely to be dissatisfied by the absence of romance

today marriage is viewed as not being a binding contract but as a relationship of personal fulfilment and encourages divorce if its not found

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6
Q

explanations for the increase in divorce - rising expectations of marriage AO3 - fletcher

A

fletcher -
although most adults do re-marry

marriage rates have fallen in past 50 years

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7
Q

explanations for the increase in divorce - rising expectations of marriage AO3 - feminists

A

feminists- the view is too rosy
the oppression of women in the family is the main cause of conflict and divorce = why it’s mainly women who seek a divorce

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8
Q

explanations for the increase in divorce - womens increased financial independence AO1

A

improvements in their economic position have made them less financially dependent on their husband and freer to leave an unhappy marriage

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9
Q

explanations for the increase in divorce - womens increased financial independence AO2

A

girls greater success in eduction helps them achieve better paid jobs

equal pay act has narrowed gender pay gap

can support themselves in the event of a divorce because they aren’t dependent economically and the availability of welfare benefits

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10
Q

explanations for the increase in divorce - feminist explanations

A

married women have a dual burden which has created conflict leading to higher divorce rates

big improvements in the public sphere but not in the family because - marriage remains patriarchal with men benefiting from wives triple shift

radical feminists -
many women feel a growing dissatisfaction with patriarchal marriage and the rise of divorce rates and the fact most petitions come from women as evidence of a growing acceptance of feminist ideas

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11
Q

explanations for the increase in divorce - feminist explanations AO2 Hochschild

A

Hochschild study

for many women home compares unfavourably to work
at work they feel valued
at home - mens resistance to do housework = instability and conflict in the marriage

now that both partners work = less time to do the emotional work to fix the relationship

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12
Q

explanations for the increase in divorce - feminist explanations AO3

A

Cooke and Gash found no evidence that working women are more likely to divorce - because working has now become the accepted norm for married women.

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13
Q

explanations for the increase in divorce - modernity and individualisation

A

in modern society, traditional norms such
as, the duty to remain with same partner for life becomes less normal. so - each individual becomes free to pursue their own interests

pure relationship - one that exist solely to satisfy each partners needs

modern society encourages individualism by expecting both men and women to work and pursue career ambitions.

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14
Q

the meaning of high divorce rate as AO3 - new right

A

Undesirable as it undermines marriage &the traditional nuclear family,

creates a growing underclass of Welfare dependent female lone parents who are a burden on the state and leaves boys without role model.
results in poorer educational outcomes.

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15
Q

the meaning of high divorce rate as AO3 - feminists

A

High divorce rate is desirable as it frees women from patriarchal oppression of the nuclear family.

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16
Q

the meaning of high divorce rate as AO3 - functionalist s

A

not necessarily a threat to marriage as the higher rate of re marriage shows continuing commitment to marriage

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17
Q

the meaning of high divorce rate as AO3 - interactionist

A

cannot generalise the meaning of it because every interpretation is different

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18
Q

changes in the patterns of marriage trends AO2

A

fewer people are marrying - rates at lowest since 1920s

there are more re-marriages - in 2012 1/3 of marriages were re-marriages
this is serial monogamy = the pattern of divorce and re-marriage

people are marrying later - 2012, 30yrs old for women and 32 for men

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19
Q

marriage - reasons for changing patterns (3)

A

changes in the position of women

fear of divorce

secularisation

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20
Q

marriage - reasons for changing patterns - changes in the position of women

A

with better educational and job prospects women are less economically dependent on men

the feminist view that marriage is patriarchal and oppressive may also dissuade

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21
Q

marriage - reasons for changing patterns - fear of divorce

A

with rising divorce rates some are put off as they see the increased likelihood of it ending in divorce

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22
Q

marriage - reasons for changing patterns - secularisation

A

as church influence declines, people feel freer not to choose to marry

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23
Q

cohabitation AO1

A

involves an unmarried couple in a sexual relationship living together

it can be viewed as a trial marriage

Bejin argues cohabitation among young people represents a conscious attempt to create more equal relationships than a conventional patriarchal marriage

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24
Q

cohabitation AO2

A

the number of marriages decrease and the number of couples cohabiting increases

shelton and John - women who cohabit do less housework than those married

25
Q

reasons for cohabitation

A

young people with no religion are more likely to cohabit than those with religion

decline in stigma attached to sex outside marriage

increased career opportunities for women mean they have less need for the financials security of marriage

26
Q

cohabitation AO3

A

cohabitation does not mean the same to every couple. the term covers a diverse range of partnerships and the relationship between cohabitation and marriage is complex

27
Q

relationship between cohabitation and marriage
____ is increasing as ______ decreases

A

Cohabitation is increasing as marriages decrease - for some this is a step towards getting married - for others it is a permanent alternative

chester - for most people cohabitation is a part of the process of getting married

28
Q

same sex relationships - AO2

A

5-7% of the adult population today have same sex relationships

male homosexual acts were decriminalised 1967 for consenting adults over 21

29
Q

AO3 of same sex AO2s

A

its impossible to judge whether they represent an increase as in the past stigma and illegality meant such relationships were most likely hidden

30
Q

same sex relationships - Weeks

A

increased social acceptance may explain a trend towards same sex cohabitation and relationships

gays create families based on the idea of ‘friendship of kinship’ - he describes these as ‘chosen families’ and argues they offer the same security and stability as heterosexual families

31
Q

same sex relationships - Weston

A

describes same sex cohabitation as ‘quasi-marriage’ and says many gays are now deciding to cohabit as stable partners

32
Q

same sex relationships - AO3 Allan and crow

A

argue that because of the obscene of a framework until recently same-sex partners have had to negotiate their commitment and responsibilities more than married couples

they made same-sex relationships both more flexible and less stable than heterosexual.

33
Q

one person households AO2

A

in 2006, 3/10 households contained one person

40% of these are pensioners

men under 65 are most likely group

34
Q

one person households - reasons for the changes

A

increase in seperation and divorce - following divorce any children are most likely to live with mother and the father will leave the family home

decrease in numbers marrying and trend towards marrying later = people are remaining single

too few partners available in age group

35
Q

LATs - AO2

A

1/10 adults is a LAT

36
Q

Living apart together (LATs)

A

in a significant relationship but not married or cohabiting -
some people can’t afford to live together and a minority choose to live apart so they can keep their house

Duncan and Phillips - being a LAT is no longer seen as abnormal - public attitudes towards LATs are favourable, a majority believe a couple doesn’t have to live together to be strong

37
Q

childbearing - children born outside of marriage AO2

A

nearly 1/2 of all children are born outside of marriage

38
Q

childbearing - how many children women are having AO2

A

women are having fewer children in the 20th century. children per women fell from 2.95 to 1.63 in 2001

39
Q

childbearing - when are women having children AO2

A

women are having children later - average age of woman at birth of first child = 28.1 - rose by 4 years since 1970

40
Q

childbearing - reasons for the changes

A

decline in stigma and increase in cohabitation
e.g only 28% of 25-34year olds think marriage before parenthood

later age women are having children the smaller family sizes and the fact that more women remain childless reflect the fact that women have more choices than motherhood - e.g careers

41
Q

lone-parent family trends

A

a child living with a lone parent is 2x more likely to be in poverty as a child with both parents

1/4 children live in a lone-parent family

42
Q

lone parent families - reasons for the patterns

A

the number of Leo parent families has risen due to the increase of divorce

increase in unmarried women having children

few lone parent families are father headed because:
- the belief that women are by nature suited to the nurturing role
- divorce courts usually give custody of th children to mothers
- men may be less willing to give up work

43
Q

lone parent families - single by choice

A

mothers are single by choice
they may not wish to marry or cohabit or want to limit the fathers involvement

Cashmore - some WC women with less earning power chose to live on welfare benefits without. partner often because they’ve experienced domestic abuse

feminist ideas and greater opportunities for women has increased unmarried women

44
Q

lone parent families - welfare state and poverty

A

new right - Murray - argues that lone-parents are creating a ‘dependency culture’ in which people assume the state will support them and their children

45
Q

lone parent families - welfare state and poverty - critics of Murray AO3

A

welfare benefits are far from generous and lone parent families are more likely to be in poverty because:
- most lone parents are women who earn less than men
- lack of affordable childcare prevents lone parents from working - 60% are unemployed

46
Q

stepfamilies AO2

A

account for 10% of all families in Britain

in 85% of step families at leats one child is from mothers previous relationship - 11%, one child from mans

47
Q

stepfamilies AO1

A

Ferri and Smith - stepfamilies are similar to first families in that child rearing is positive but they are at a greater risk of poverty

Allan and Crow - stepfamilies may face particular problems of divided loyalties and issues of contact with the non-resident parent

48
Q

what factors are responsible for increase in stepfamilies (2)

A

divorce
seperation

49
Q

why are more children in stepfamilies from the women’s previous relationship than the man’s

A

when marriages and cohabitations break up children are more likely to remain with mother

50
Q

why are children in stepfamilies at greater risk of poverty

A

there are often more children in step families and because the father may also have to support children from previous relationship

51
Q

ethnic differences - 2011 consensus Ao2

A

86& o fUK population = white
14% = ethnic minorities - main groups asian

52
Q

ethnic differences - black families AO2

A

over half of families with children headed by. black person were lone-parent families

53
Q

ethnic differences - black families AO1

A

the high rate of female headed Lone parent black families can be traced back to slavery - when couples were sold separately children stayed with the mother - this established a life pattern

male unemployment and poverty have meant that black men are less able to provide for their families

Mirza - the higher rate of alone families among blacks is because of the high value black women place on independence

54
Q

ethnic differences - asian families

A

larger than those of other ethnic groups

reflect the value placed on the extended family

practical considerations - when migrating the need for assistance is important

55
Q

the extended family - AO2 Charles ‘extinct’

A

the classic 3 generation family all living together under one roof is now extinct

56
Q

the extended family - Willmott ‘continues’ Ao1

A

the extended family is not extinct but - continues to exist but as a dispersed extended family where relatives are geographically separated but maintain contact

57
Q

the extended family - beanpole family Ao1

A

its extended vertically (grandparents etc) but not horizontally (aunts etc)

58
Q

the extended family - beanpole family is the result of 2 demographic changes

A

increased life expectancy = more surviving grandparents

smaller family sizes = people have fewer siblings

59
Q

the extended family - beanpole family - obligations to relatives AO2

A

people still feel a sense of obligation to help their wider extended kin

90% of people had or given financial help

sociology - family (7 decks)

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