Changing family Patterns- Families and households

Question 1

What are the explanations for the increase in divorce?

Answer 1

1. Changes in the law
2. Declining stigma
3. secularisation
4. Rising expectations of marriage
5. Women’s increased financial independence
6. Feminists explanations
7. Modernity and individualisation

Question 2

How does the changes in law increase the divorce rates?

Answer 2

Has been making divorce cheaper
Equalising the grounds for divorce between the sexes
Widening the grounds and reasons for divorce

Question 3

Has divorce became easier?

Answer 3

Yes

Question 4

How has declining in stigma and the changing in attitudes affected the divorce rate?

Answer 4

There has been a less negative labels placed on divorce therefore it becomes more socially acceptable, and then more people can get them

Question 5

How has secularisation affected the divorce rate?

Answer 5

Society is becoming less religious and therefore is acceptable to divorce with people not judging you

Question 6

How has the rising expectations of marriage affected the divorce rates?

Answer 6

Marriage is increasing viewed nit as a binding contract, but as a relationship in which individual seek personal fulfilment and this encourages couples to divorce if they don’t find it.

Question 7

How has women’s increased financial independence affected the rates of divorce?

Answer 7

Women are much more likely to be in paid work.
Anti discrimination laws have helped narrow pay gap
Girls greater success in education now helps better paid jobs
The availability of welfare benefits means that the woman doesn’t need to depend on the man

Question 8

How have feminist explanations affected the rate of divorce?

Answer 8

Feminists argue that married women today bear a dual burden. This has created a new source of conflict and therefore leading to a higher rate if divorce than in the past.

Question 9

How does modernity and individualisation affect the rate of divorce?

Answer 9

Relationships become more fragile because individuals become unwilling to remain with a partner if the relationship fails to deliver personal fulfilment.
People are now encouraged to persue their career.

Question 10

How does the new right see the increasing divorce rate?

Answer 10

See a high divorce rate as undesirable because it undermines marriage and the traditional nuclear family.

Question 11

How does Feminists see the increasing divorce rate?

Answer 11

See it as desirable because it shows that women are breaking free from oppression of the patriarchal nuclear family

Question 12

How does functionalists see the increasing divorce rate?

Answer 12

Argue that high divorce rate is not necessarily a threat to marriage as a social institution

Question 13

What are the reasons for changing patterns of marriage?

Answer 13

Changing attitudes to marriage 
Secularisation 
Declining stigma attached to other forms of marriage
Changes in position of women
Fear of Divorce

Question 14

How has the changing attitudes to marriage changed?

Answer 14

There is less pressure to marry and more freedom for individuals to choose the type of relationship they want

Question 15

How has secularisation affected the rate of marriage?

Answer 15

The churches are in favour of marriage, but as their influence declines people feel freer to choose not to marry

Question 16

How has the declining stigma attached to alternative to marriage affected the marriage rate?

Answer 16

Cohabitation, single parents, and having children outside of marriage is now socially acceptable

Question 17

How has the changes in position of women affected the marriage rate?

Answer 17

Many women are now less economically dependent on men. This then gives them more freedom not to marry.

Question 18

How does the fear of divorce affect the rate of marriage?

Answer 18

Some may be putting off marrying because they see the increased rate in divorce

Question 19

What are the reasons for increase on cohabitation?

Answer 19

• increased rate are a result of the decline in stigma attached to sec outside of marriage
• young are more likely to accept cohabitation
• increased career opportunities may mean they have less need for the financial security of marriage and are freer to opt for cohabitation
• Secularisation

Question 20

What is the relationship between cohabitation and marriage?

Answer 20

Cohabitation could be just a step on the way to marriage where as some couples say it is a permanent alternative

Question 21

How has same sex relationships became more socially acceptable?

Answer 21

Male homosexual acts were decriminalised in 1967 for consenting adults over 21
Age of consent has been equalised with heterosexuals
Social policy treats all couples more equally
Civil partnership act gave same sex couples the right to get married.

Question 22

Reasons for the changes in one person households?

Answer 22

Increase in separation and divorce

The decline in the numbers marrying

Question 23

What are the reasons for the changes of childbearing?

Answer 23

Declining stigma and increase in cohabitation

The later age women are having children, smaller family size and the fact that women are remaining childless

Question 24

What are the reasons for more lone parent families?

Answer 24

Increase in divorce

Question 25

What are the reasons for the patterns in step families?

Answer 25

Divorce and separation are responsible for the creation of step families

Question 26

What households tend to be larger than other ethnic groups?

Answer 26

Bangladeshi, Pakistani and Indian households.

Question 27

What is a ‘beanpole’ family?

Answer 27

It is extended vertically through three or more generations (grandparents,parent and children)