Changing Family Relationships

Question 1

Changes in patterns of marriage

Answer 1

• fewer people are getting married today
• people are getting married later with the age rising by 7 years to 32 for men and 30 for women
• couples are more likely to have a civil ceremony
• civil partnership act 2005 giving gay couples an alternative to marriage

Question 2

Reasons for changing patterns in marriage - norms, feminism, fear of divorce

Answer 2

There are social norms towards marriage. There is less pressure to marry now and there are fewer stigmas to alternatives. This in part could be due to secularisation as society has become less religious so people no longer feel pressure to marry out of religious obligations or marry in a church.

More women work and are economically independent and dont depend on men so the need to marry is diminished.

Rising divorce rates puts people off marriage all together.

Question 3

Patterns of cohabitation

Answer 3

Cohabitation is living together as a couple in a sexual relationship without being married. Fastest growing family type in UK and is rapidly increasing.

Question 4

Reasons for the increase in cohabitation

Answer 4

• secularisation
• less stigma attached to sex and children outside of marriage
• changes in social norms

Chester suggests cohabitation is apart of the process of getting married and this is supported by Coast who found 75% of cohabiting couples had plans and expected to marry in the future and is viewed as a trial marriage.

Bejin suggests cohabiting for some may be a way of negotiating a more equal relationship rather than patriarchal marriage.

Question 5

Changing patterns in divorce

Answer 5

The divorce rate has seen a great increase from the middle of the 20th century. By 2001, the divorce rate was 6 times higher than in 1961 meaning 1/3 of all marriages will end in divorce

Question 6

Explanation for the increase in divorce

Answer 6

• changes in the law as divorce is now much easier, cheaper and quicker
• decline in stigma and changing attitudes as social disapproval attached to divorce has decreased maybe due to secularisation
• changing position of women - less dependent on husbands and freer to end unhappy marriage. Hochschild says men not helping with housework could cause conflict and lead to divorce
• Giddens suggests todays marriage is not based on obligation and duty but instead confluent love so these pure relationships are less stable and breakdown easily

Question 7

Post modernity and Individualisation - negotiated families

Answer 7

Beck and Beck - Gernsheim say we are less influenced by tradition as we have more choice but more choice brings more risk. Society emphasises development as an individual and as marriage restricts freedom this could explain its decline and increased divorce. It explains the rise in negotiated families as it is more equal and reflects needs and wishes of members. Risk and choice mean people choose nuclear family for security - known as zombie family

Question 8

Theoretical perspectives on marriage and divorce ( new right and feminism)

Answer 8

New Right - negative view of increased cohabiting and divorce and decreased marriage as they believe the nuclear family is essential for childrens upbringing. They think this will lead to inadequate socialisation and think divorce is too easy and should be tightened up

Feminsm - Positive about divorce and cohabitation as women can be free and in more equal relationships and some feminists would reject marriage as a patriarchal institution but not all are against marriage