Changing Patterns Flashcards
Changing Family patterns: In a nutshell
Divorce is increasing and marriage is decreasing. Reasons for this include secularisation, decline in stigma, changing position of women, and changes in the law.
Increasing divorce rates: Why are they increasing?
40% of marriages now end in divorce. The reasons for the increase over the past 60 years include:
-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.
Why are marriage rates decreasing?
-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
Other trends in marriage:
-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
Partnerships:
-More people are living together without being married (secularisation, stigma and cost)
-Increase in same-sex partnerships (secularisation and stigma)
-More people living alone (life expectancy and stigma)
Childbearing and Childrearing:
-More children are born outside marriage
-Women are having children later
-Radical feminists are still unhappy with women being the main caregivers
