Changing family patterns Flashcards
What are the patterns for divorce (3 examples)?
Since the 1960’s there has been a great increase in the number of divorces in the UK
The number of divorces has doubled between 1961 and 1969 and doubled again by 1972
40% of all marriages end in divorce
How have changes in the law changed divorce rates?
Equalising the grounds of divorce between sexes 1923
Making divorce cheaper 1949
Introducing “irretrievable breakdown” and widening the grounds for divorce 1969
How has declining stigma and changes in attitude changed divorce rates?
Divorces have been stigmatised in the past
The stigma has declined and divorce is now more socially acceptable
How has secularisation affected rates in divorce?
Decline of religious influence in society
People may get divorced as they no longer see it as sinful or are influenced by religion.
How has rising expectations of marriage affected the rates of divorce?
Functionalists such as Fletcher argue that higher expectations are now placed on marriage “romantic love”
Functionalists are still optimistic about marriage- most people do it- less rejection.
How has changes in the position of women affected divorce rates?
Women are more likely to be in paid work, performing better in schools, more equal pay/separate pay, welfare state was introduced, work women feel valued, and women feel frustrated that men don’t help with housework.
How has individualisation affected divorce rates?
Relationships have become increasingly about personal fulfillment
How do New Right see divorce?
See higher divorce rates as negative and undesirable- they undermine the traditional nuclear family and values. Divorce creates an underclass who depend on benefits and cause crimes. Claim children are not socialised properly because they lack a male role model.
How do Feminists see divorce?
See divorce as a good thing because it shows that women are breaking free of the patriarchal nuclear family. Liberal feminists- argue this trend is a positive development. Radical feminists- more is needed- increase in divorce and political lesbianism.
How do Post-modernists see divorce?
Argue it shows individuals making individual choices to end relationships if they don’t meet their needs. Gives individuals freedom- proves a point that there is no single explanation of the way things should be anymore.
How do personal life see divorce? What does Smart argue?
Accept that divorce can cause problems such as financial difficulties and lack of daily contact between children and non-resident parents. Smart argues that divorce should become normalised and that family life can adapt to it without disintegrating. It is not a major social problem.
How do functionalists see divorce?
Beleive that the nuclear family is good for society- they argue that an increase in divorce does not mean that the nuclear family or marriage is under threat. Argue people’s high expectations from marriage is why divorce rates have risen and people continue to re-marry.
How do interactionists see divorce? What does Morgan argue?
They attempt to understand the meaning of divorce for the individuals involved rather than society as a whole. Morgan argues we cannot generalise about what divorce means because everyone’s interpretation of it is different.
What did the Divorce Law Reform Act (1969) entail?
It made irretrievable breakdown’ of marriage the sole ground of divorce established by proving unreasonable behaviour, adultery, desertion, or separation either with or without consent.
What are the patterns for marriage (3 reasons)?
Fewer people are marrying- in 2005 there were 170,800 first marriages- less than half the number for 1970
There are more re-marriages- in 2005 4 out of 10 were re-marriages- this has led to serial monogamy
Couples are less likely to marry in church- in 2005 35% of marriages were conducted with religious ceremonies.
How has the cost of marriage affected the pattern of marriage?
The average cost of marriage- £18,000- £19,000 and the cost of living crisis
How has changing attitudes affected the pattern of marriage?
Less pressure to marry, more freedom to choose the relationship you want.
How has secularisation affected the pattern of marriage?
Churches are in favour of marriage. As their influence declines, people feel free to choose not to marry.
How has declining stigma affected the pattern of marriage?
Cohabitation, remaining single and having children outside of marriage are now acceptable.
How has changes in the position of women affected marriage?
Have better education and career prospects- women are less economically dependant on men. More freedom.
How has fear of divorce affected marriage?
Rising divorce rate may put off people from getting married.
What did Sue Sharpe study?
She studied working class girls- in the early70s she found that their main concern were love, marriage, husbands, children, jobs, and careers. Then when she returned in the 90s, she found that their priorities were now job, career, and being able to support themselves.
What does Stonewall say about Same-Sex relationships?
5-7% of the adult population have same-sex relationships. It is hard to judge if this has increased/decreased because in the past, stigma and illegality meant that relationships were kept hidden.
What did the Civil Partnership Act give to same-sex relationships?
Similar legal rights to married couples in respect of pensioners, inheritence, tenancies and property.
How does Weston describe same-sex cohabitation?
A quasi-marriage and notes that many gay couples are now deciding to cohabit as stable parents.
How many households contained one person in 2006?
3 in 10
What has the increase in separation and divorce created?
More one-person households and more people remaining single.
What are 3 trends in childbearing/rearing?
Over 4 in every 10 are now born outside marriage- 5x more likely than 1971
Women are having children later, the average age at the birth of the first child is 27.3
Women are having fewer children.
What are the reasons for these trends in childrearing/bearing?
A decline in stigma and increase in cohabitation
Increase in births to cohabiting couples
Women have more options than just motherhood- careers, education.
What are 3 trends in step-families?
Step-families account for over 10% of all families with dependant children
In 86% of step-families, at least one child is from the women’s previous relationship, while in 11% there is at least one child from the mans previous relationship
Step-families may face particular problems such as divided loyalties and issues such as contact with the non-resident parent can cause tension.
What are the reasons for the patterns of step-families?
They are formed when lone parents from new relationships as such an increase in divorce is a reason for the growth of this family
Children are more likely to live with the mother when families break up
Tensions may be faced due to lack of clear social norms about how you should behave in these families
What are 3 trends in lone parent families?
LPF make up 24% of all families. 1 child in 4 lives in a LPF
Over 90% of these families are headed by a woman
Up until the 1990s, divorced women were the biggest group of lone mothers. From the early 1990s, single mothers (never married) became the biggest group of lone mothers.
What are the 4 reasons for patterns of lone parent families?
They have increased due to the number of divorces and separation
Never married women having children is linked to the decline in stigma
LPF tend to be women headed because of the belief that women are naturally better suited to the expressive role
Murray argues that the growth is a result of over0generous welfare state- preserve incentives
What do Black Caribbean and Black African people have a higher proportion of?
Lone Parent Families
In 2012, over a half of lone parent families with dependant children were headed by who?
Black people
What does Mirza argue about black lone parent families?
That lone parent families among blacks is not the result of disorganisation, but rather reflects the high value that black women place on independence.
Bangladeshi, Pakistani, and Indian households tend to be what?
Larger than those of other ethnic groups
According to Parsons, what was the extended family dominant in?
Dominant in the pre-industrial society but has been replaced by the nuclear family in today’s society.
What does Wilmott say about the extended family?
The extended family may have declined, but it has not completely disappeared. We now have a dispersed extended family.
What does Wilmott say the dispersed extended family is?
It is where relatives are geographically separated but maintain frequent contact through visits and phone calls.
What important functions does the extended family perform?
Financial and domestic help.
What is the beanpole family?
It is the type of family that includes three or more generations, but it is not extended horizontally, so it does not include aunts or uncles.
Why does the beanpole family occur?
As a result of increased life expectancy and smaller family size.
