Changing Family Patterns : Divorce Flashcards
What have been he recent changing patterns in divorce ?
Since the 1960s there has been a great increase in the number of divorces in the UK. There is a decrease in divorces from 2012 onwards but that is because there has been an overall decrease in couples marrying in the first place.
What are the reasons for the increase in divorce ?
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 + Individualisation
Explain the changes in law and why it has increased the rate of divorce ?
Equalising the legal reasons for divorce between the sexes. indenting the ground for divorce and making divorce cheaper. The introduction of legal aid for divorce cases in 1949 lowered the cost of divorcing.
Explain the declining stigma and changing attitudes towards divorce and how it has increased divorce
The negative label around divorce around divorce making it more socially acceptable people have been more inclined to get a divorce as here is no longer a disapproval from members of society.
Explain how secularisation has increased the rates of divorce
Man sociologists have argued that religious institutions have begun to loose their influence over members of society therefore making society more secular. Because of this people have become less influence by religious teachings which disapprove of divorce.
How have rising expectations of marriage increased the rates of divorce ?
Fletcher argues that because people have such high expectations of marriage they are less likely to tolerate an unhappy marriage causing them to get a divorce. This is linked to the ideology of romantic love which is more prevalent in today’s society meaning that if love dies out within a marriage there is no point for them to stay married. Because of the high re-marriage rate sociologists can suggest that people have not lot their trust in marriage as an institution but re just trying to find the right person.Feminist critic this by saying it is the oppression of women which causes them to re-marry as they do not have the same opportunities divorce compared to if they are married.
Explain how an increase in women’s financial independence has cause the rate of divorced to increase ?
The improvements in their economic position has caused women to be less financially dependent on their husbands making them more likely to end an unhappy marriage. Women today are more likely to be in paid work than being a stay at home wife. The Equal Pay Act has helped womn gain financial independence.
What are the feminist explanations for the increase in divorce ?
Feminist argue that today women in a family are faced with the dual burden. his has caused a new conflict between the husbands and wives leading to a possible divorce. Even though in wider society there has been gradual improvements women’s private spheres within the family are still dictated by patriarchal norms since they only benefit men in the family.
What does modernity and individualisation suggest about the increase in divorce ?
Beck and Gide suggest that people nowadays are more likely to seek their own interest and this has become known as the individualisation thesis. hi causes relationships to become more fragile since the members of the relationship are less afraid to leave it if it doesn’t satisfy them. Modern society also encourages this individualism.
What do the New Right think of the high divorce rate ?
They see it as undesirable because it undermines marriage and the traditional nuclear family, which they regard as vital to social stability. It also causes an increase in dependence on the welfare state given that it leaves more families lone-parented.
What do feminist think of the high divorce rate ?
They see it as desirable because it shows that women are breaking free from the oppression of the patriarchal nuclear family.
What do Postmodernist and Individualisation theorist think about the high divorce rate ?
They see it as showing that individuals now have the freedom to choose to end a relationship when it no longer meets their needs. They see it as a major cause of greater family diversity.
What do functionalist think about the high divorce rate ?
They argue that it is not necessarily a threat to marriage as a social institution. It is simply the result of people’s expectations of marriage today. The high rate of re-marriage shows that people still believe in marriage as an institution.
What do Interactionist think about the high divorce rate ?
They aim to understand what divorce means to the individual. Morgan (1996) rogue that we cannot generalise about the meaning of divorce, because every individual’s interpretation of it is different.
What do personal life perspective theorists think about the high rate of divorce ?
They accept that divorce can cause problems, such as financial difficulties and lack of daily contact between children and non-resident parents. However, Smart (2011) argue that divorce has become normalised and that family life can adapt to it with out disintegrating.
