Changing Patterns - 2.6 Flashcards
What the trend in Divorce?
Divorce in recent years has been declined, but more > past.
What is the reason for the fall in divorce?
less ppl are marrying and cohabiting instead.
What % of marriages end in Divorce?
40% of marriages end in divorce
What Gender does Divorce usually come from?
65% of divorces come from women
Divorce Key Sociologists
> Fletcher (Rising Expectations of Marriage)
> Goode (Functional Fit)
> Dennis (Functional Fit)
> Allan & Crowe (Functional Fit)
> Bernard (Radical Feminists)
> Feminist Explanation
> Beck & Giddens (Modernity and Individualisation)
Explain the Significance of Changes in the Law, in relation to Explanations for the Increase in Divorce?
- Grounds for Divorce, equalised for men and women.
- Widening of grounds for divorce to ‘irretrievable breakdown.
- Cheaper divorce
Criticisms of Changes in the Law
> Divorce was rising before widening of divorce to irretrievable breakdown.
Explain the Secularisation and Declining Stigma in relation to Explanations for the Increase in Divorce?
> Divorce was stigmatised, by churches.
> But societies more secular so ppl don’t care about religion when making decisions on personal matters.
> So divorce is more common, so more ppl willing to resort to it.
Outline how Rising Expectations of Marriage (Fletcher) lead to Higher Divorce?
> Divorce due to higher expectations of marriage
> Ideology of Romantic Love, so marriage is based purely on love
> If love dies no reason to stay married
> In past individuals had little choice about marriage, they were made for economic reasons
> So ppl had lower expectations of marriage, not annoyed by lack of romance or intimacy
Functionalist Optimistic View on Divorce
High rate of re-marriage shows divorcees haven’t rejected marriage as an institution.
Criticisms of Optimistic View on Divorce
Feminists say this is a rosy view, patriarchal oppression of women causes divorce.
Explain how Goode’s (Functional Fit Theory) lead to Higher Divorce?
- Divorce increased as family’s become isolated from EF
- So more burden on couples due to no support from other relatives.
Explain how Dennis (Functional Fit Theory) lead to Higher Divorce?
Believes as family performs fewer functions bonds w/ husband & wife are weaker.
Explain how Allan & Crowe (Functional Fit Theory) lead to Higher Divorce?
Families no longer economic unit so easier for them to break up.
Explain the Feminist Explanation on Higher Divorce?
- Girls now wage earners so less financially dependent on husband, so more likely to end marriage.
- Girls do ‘triple shift’ creating conflict w/ couples.
Explain the Bernard’s Radical Feminist Explanation on Higher Divorce?
- Many feel increasing dissatisfaction w/ patriarchal marriage
- Increasing divorce rates are evidence of growing acceptance of feminist ideas,
- Less willing to tolerate patriarchal oppression, resulting in divorce.
A03 Criticisms of Divorce Key Sociologists
> Cooke & Gash (Feminist Explanation)
Explain Cooke’s & Gash’s Criticisms of Feminist Explanations
No evidence working women more likely to divorce, as working now accepted norm for married women
Explain the Beck & Giddens Modernity and Individualisation Explanation on Higher Divorce?
> Tradition to stay w/ 1 partner for life, unimportant, so relationships more fragile & unwilling to remain in unhappy relationships.
> Trend towards pure relationship, not for tradition or kids.
> Modernity encourages both sexes, adopt a consumerist identity, based on self-interest
leds to conflict of interest, pulling couples apart.
Views of Divorce Key Sociologists
> New Right (View on High Divorce Rate)
> Feminists (View on High Divorce Rate)
> Postmodernists (View on High Divorce Rate)
> Functionalist (View on High Divorce Rate)
> Interactionist (View on High Divorce Rate)
> PLP (View on High Divorce Rate)
> Smart (PLP view on High Divorce Rate)
What is the New Right view on Meaning of High Divorce Rate?
- Undesirable as it undermines marriage & NF that’s good for social stability.
- Creates welfare-dependent LPF, so boys have no male role model, increasing crime rate and poor educational outcomes.
What is the Postmodernists view on Meaning of High Divorce Rate?
- Encourages individuals to have freedom to choose to end relationships.
- Leads to greater family diversity
What is the Feminist view on Meaning of High Divorce Rate?
- Divorce laws helped women to gain freedom, independence and equality.
What is the Interactionists view on Meaning of High Divorce Rate?
- Need to look at what divorce means to individuals
- Morgan says we can’t generalise about meaning of divorce as every one’s interpretation is different.
- Mitchell and Goody found in their interviews:
- One said day her father left was best day of her life and others say they’ve not recovered from it.
What is the PLP view on Meaning of High Divorce Rate?
Led to financial issue & lack of contact w/ kids and non-resident parents
What is Smart’s PLP view on Meaning of High Divorce Rate?
- Divorce become normalised, so family can adapt to it without disintegrating, instead of seeing divorce as major social problem.
- We should see it as 1 transition amongst others in the life course.
Marriage & Partnerships Key Sociologists
> Postmodernists (Beck & Giddens) (Reasons for Less Marriage)
> Chester & Coast (Relationship between Cohabitation & Marriage)
> Benjin (Young ppl favour Cohabitation > Marriage)
> Shelton & John (Cohabiting Women & Domestic Tasks)
> Weston (SSC Cohabitation)
> Allan & Crow (Benefits of SSC Cohabitation)
> Einasdottir (Gays & Attitudes to Civil Partnerships)
What are the Trends in Marriage?
> Declining
NO of Remarriages is rising
Ppl getting married later
Reasons for Changing Patterns in Marriage
> Postmodernism
Women more Financially Independent
Secularisation and Declining Stigma
Medical Advancement & Impact of Increased LE
Explain Postmodernism (Beck) in relation to Reasons for Changing Patterns in Marriage (1)
- Ppl less likely to get married due to structural changes making life more uncertain.
- Beck argues fewer ppl getting married, due to increase in ‘risk consciousness’ ppl see 40% marriages end in divorce, so unwilling to get married
Explain Postmodernism (Beck and Giddens) in relation to Reasons for Changing Patterns in Marriage (2)
- individual desires are important > tradition so marriage less likely.
- Now a pure relationship - lasts as long as both partners are happy, not due to tradition.
- So cohabitation’s more ideal than marriage.
A03 Reasons for Decline in Marriage Sociologists
> New Right (Postmodernism)
Radical Feminists (Women More Financially Independent)
New Right (Cohabitation & Declining Stigma)
Murphy (Cohabitation & Declining Stigma)
Explain Women more Financially Independent in relation to Reasons for Changing Patterns in Marriage
- Girls now less reliant on men.
- Laws e.g. equal pay, put girls on = terms with men
- Don’t need marriage for financial security, so more freedom to be single.
Radical Feminists Criticisms of Women More Financially Independent
> Despite laws e.g. equal pay
> e.g. Women still discriminated against in job market
> e.g. not being given jobs or less pay, due to stereotype they’ll end up getting pregnant, despite them having same qualifications as a man.
Explain Secularisation and Declining Stigma in relation to Reasons for Changing Patterns in Marriage
- Churches favour marriage, but as influence declines people choose not to marry.
- Less stigma to cohabitation & kids out of wedlock.
- Pregnancy, no longer leads to a ‘shotgun wedding’’
New Right Criticisms of Cohabitation and Declining Stigma
> New Right oppose cohabitation, as it’s less stable then marriage & there’s no commitment to stay
> Detrimental to kids from a cohabiting couple, who’s parents have broken up.
> Leading to absence of male role model, resulting in higher crime rates & poor educational outcomes.
Murphy Criticisms of Cohabitation and Declining Stigma
Kids of cohabiting parents are disadvantaged.
Explain Medical Advancement & Impact of Increased LE in relation to Reasons for Changing Patterns in Marriage
> Men & women are now more career-focused, put off marriage to focus on careers.
> IVF means women can have kids in their 40s.
> Increased LE so ppl don’t have to rush to get married.
> Time to find someone that’s perfect for them, trialling & testing, e.g. through cohabitation