Changing family Patterns- Families and households Flashcards
What are the explanations for the increase in divorce?
- Changes in the law
- Declining stigma
- secularisation
- Rising expectations of marriage
- Women’s increased financial independence
- Feminists explanations
- Modernity and individualisation
How does the changes in law increase the divorce rates?
Has been making divorce cheaper
Equalising the grounds for divorce between the sexes
Widening the grounds and reasons for divorce
Has divorce became easier?
Yes
How has declining in stigma and the changing in attitudes affected the divorce rate?
There has been a less negative labels placed on divorce therefore it becomes more socially acceptable, and then more people can get them
How has secularisation affected the divorce rate?
Society is becoming less religious and therefore is acceptable to divorce with people not judging you
How has the rising expectations of marriage affected the divorce rates?
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.
How has women’s increased financial independence affected the rates of divorce?
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
How have feminist explanations affected the rate of divorce?
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.
How does modernity and individualisation affect the rate of divorce?
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.
How does the new right see the increasing divorce rate?
See a high divorce rate as undesirable because it undermines marriage and the traditional nuclear family.
How does Feminists see the increasing divorce rate?
See it as desirable because it shows that women are breaking free from oppression of the patriarchal nuclear family
How does functionalists see the increasing divorce rate?
Argue that high divorce rate is not necessarily a threat to marriage as a social institution
What are the reasons for changing patterns of marriage?
Changing attitudes to marriage Secularisation Declining stigma attached to other forms of marriage Changes in position of women Fear of Divorce
How has the changing attitudes to marriage changed?
There is less pressure to marry and more freedom for individuals to choose the type of relationship they want
How has secularisation affected the rate of marriage?
The churches are in favour of marriage, but as their influence declines people feel freer to choose not to marry
How has the declining stigma attached to alternative to marriage affected the marriage rate?
Cohabitation, single parents, and having children outside of marriage is now socially acceptable
How has the changes in position of women affected the marriage rate?
Many women are now less economically dependent on men. This then gives them more freedom not to marry.
How does the fear of divorce affect the rate of marriage?
Some may be putting off marrying because they see the increased rate in divorce
What are the reasons for increase on cohabitation?
- 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
What is the relationship between cohabitation and marriage?
Cohabitation could be just a step on the way to marriage where as some couples say it is a permanent alternative
How has same sex relationships became more socially acceptable?
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.
Reasons for the changes in one person households?
Increase in separation and divorce
The decline in the numbers marrying
What are the reasons for the changes of childbearing?
Declining stigma and increase in cohabitation
The later age women are having children, smaller family size and the fact that women are remaining childless
What are the reasons for more lone parent families?
Increase in divorce
