Changing Family Patterns Flashcards
7 Explanations for the increase in divorce
Changes in law
Declining stigma and changing in attitudes
Secularisation
Rising expectations of marriage
Women’s increased financial independance
Feminist explanations
Modernity and individualisation
How does changes in law create an increase in divorce rates
- equalising the grounds (sharp rise in petitions from women)
-widening the grounds
-making divorce cheaper (legal aid)
Divorce reform act 1969
Other solutions less popular once divorce easier to obtain (eg desertion)
3 solutions other than divorce
Desertion- one partner leaves but stilll legally married
Legal separation- court separates financial and legal affairs, but still married
Empty shell marriage- married in name only but live under same roof
Declining stigma and changing attitudes in the increase in divorce
In the past churches condemned divorce and refused to conduct marriage services involving divorcees
Mitchell and goody- as stigma declines, divorce more socially acceptable. Normalised
Secularisation explanation for increase in divorce
Church attendance rates declining
Less influenced by religious teachings when making decisions about divorce
Many churches have begun to soften their view as they fear losing credibility
Rising expectations of marriage explanation for increase in divorce
Fletcher- less willing to tolerate an unhappy marriage. Ideology of romantic love (if love dies, every reason to divorce and find soulmate)
In the past, little choice, marriages often contracted for economic reasons. So didn’t have high expectations not dissatisfied by the absence of love and intimacy
Functionalist view on rising expectations of marriage AND AO3
Optimistic view. Continuing popularity
High rate of remarriages show they have not rejected marriage as an institution
Feminists - too rosy a view. Oppression of women is main cause of divorce. Don’t explain why women have more petitions than men
Women’s increased financial independance explanation for increase in divorce
Less financially dependant on husband
More likely in paid work, equal pay act, girls greater success in education means better paid jobs, welfare benefits
Feminist explanations explanation for increase in divorce
Dual burden- new source of conflict between couples
Big improvements in public sphere but in private sphere with personal relationships change has been limited and slow.
Men benefit from wives triple shift
Hochschild- at work, women feel valued at home men’s continuing resistance to do housework is a source of frustration
Both partners work, less time to deal with emotion work
Radical feminist view on increase in divorce rates
Most petitions come from women, growing acceptance of feminist ideas and more confident about rejecting patriarchy
Modernity and individualisation explanation for increase in divorce
Beck and Giddens- in modern society, traditional norms lose hold over individual.
Each individual free to pursue own self interests (individualisation thesis)
Relationships more fragile. Seek pure relationship - solely to satisfy each others needs
New rights view of high divorce rate
Undesirable. Undermines marriage and nuclear family which is vital to social stability. Creates growing underclass of welfare dependant female lone parents
Feminists view of high divorce rate
Desirable. Women breaking free from oppression of nuclear family
Postmodernists and individualisation thesis’s view of high divorce rate
Individuals have freedom to choose to end relationship when it no longer meets their needs
Interactionists view of high divorce rate
Aim to understand what divorce means to an individual
Personal life perspective view of high divorce rate
Smart- normalised. Family life can adapt without disintegrating
4 Patterns of marriage
Fewer people are marrying
More remarriages
People marrying later
Couples less likely to marry in church
5 reasons for changing patterns of marriage
Changing attitudes to marriage
Secularisation
Declining stigma attached to alternatives of marriage
Changes in position of women
Fear of divorce
What is the fear of divorce
With the rising divorce rate, some may be put off marrying because they see the increased likelihood of marriage ending in divorce
4 reasons for increase in cohabitation
Decline in stigma to sex outside marriage
Young more likely to accept
Increased career opportunities for women, no need for financial security
Secularisation
3 Reasons for one person households
Increase in divorce
Decline in numbers marrying
Marrying later
Living apart together
In a relationship but not cohabitating or married
Why do some couples LAT
can’t afford to
4 changes in childbearing
Nearly half of all children born outside marriage (47%)
Women having children later
Women having fewer children than 20th century
More women childless
Why do lone parent families tend to be headed by females?
Belief women by nature suited to nurturing role
Women usually have custody
Men less willing to give up work for childcare
Murray’s view on lone parenthood
Growth due to overgenerious welfare state providing benefits
Created a perverse incentive (rewards irresponsible behaviour such as having children without being able to provide for them)
Dependency culture
Solution: abolish
Ao3 of murrays view on lone parenthood
Welfare benefits are far from generous and lone parents more likely to be in poverty
Lack of affordable childcare prevents women from working
Most lone parents women who earn less
Failure of fathers to pay maintenance especially if they have second family
3 features of stepfamilies
- at greater risk of poverty
-in 85% at least one child is from women’s previous relationship - Allan and crow- issues of divided loyalties
Black lone parent families (family patterns)
Under slavery- couples sold seperately and child with mother.
Male unemployment and poverty meaning black men less able to provide
Mirza- not result of disorganisation but black women place high value on independance
Asian families (family patterns)
Large families reflect value placed on extended family in Asian cultures
Need for assistance when migrating to Britain
Dispersed extended family
Relatives are geographically separated but maintain frequent contact through visits and calls
2 features that caused the beanpole family
Increased life expectancy
Smaller family sizes
