Changing Family Patterns

Question 1

Increasing Divorce Rates

Answer 1

Legal changes - divorce has become easier to access; equalising the grounds between both genders; widening the grounds (eg. irretrievable breakdown).
Less stigma - divorce has become more common and widely accepted.
Secularisation - decline in religious influence on society.
Higher expectations of marriage - the rising expectation of marriage based upon unrealistic scenarios shown in movies has led to the dissatisfaction amongst many couples (Fletcher).
Women’s financial independence - more women are now in paid employment, and lone parent welfare benefits are available. Women are less economically dependent on a man, and can afford divorce.

Question 2

Decreasing Marriage Rates (Reasons for decline in number of people getting married)

Answer 2

Changing attitudes - less pressure to marry
Alternatives to marriage (such as cohabitation) are less stigmatised
Women’s economic independence
Impact of feminism - some women now see marriage as a patriarchal institution
Rising divorce rates - this may put women off marrying

Question 3

Decreasing Marriage Rates (Other trends in marriage)

Answer 3

Rise in serial monogamy - many people re-marry
Later marriages - the young spend longer in education and cohabit before marrying
Fewer church weddings - due to secularisation

Question 4

Partnerships

Answer 4

More people are living together without being married (secularisation, stigma and cost)
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Increase in same-sex partnerships (secularisation and stigma)
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More people living alone (life expectancy and stigma)

Question 5

Childbearing & Childrearing

Answer 5

More children are born outside marriage
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Women are having children later
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Radical feminists are still unhappy with women being the main caregivers