Changing Patterns - 2.6 Flashcards

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1
Q

What the trend in Divorce?

A

Divorce in recent years has been declined, but more > past.

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2
Q

What is the reason for the fall in divorce?

A

less ppl are marrying and cohabiting instead.

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3
Q

What % of marriages end in Divorce?

A

40% of marriages end in divorce

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4
Q

What Gender does Divorce usually come from?

A

65% of divorces come from women

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5
Q

Divorce Key Sociologists

A

> 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)

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6
Q

Explain the Significance of Changes in the Law, in relation to Explanations for the Increase in Divorce?

A
  • Grounds for Divorce, equalised for men and women.
  • Widening of grounds for divorce to ‘irretrievable breakdown.
  • Cheaper divorce
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7
Q

Criticisms of Changes in the Law

A

> Divorce was rising before widening of divorce to irretrievable breakdown.

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8
Q

Explain the Secularisation and Declining Stigma in relation to Explanations for the Increase in Divorce?

A

> 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.

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9
Q

Outline how Rising Expectations of Marriage (Fletcher) lead to Higher Divorce?

A

> 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

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10
Q

Functionalist Optimistic View on Divorce

A

High rate of re-marriage shows divorcees haven’t rejected marriage as an institution.

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11
Q

Criticisms of Optimistic View on Divorce

A

Feminists say this is a rosy view, patriarchal oppression of women causes divorce.

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12
Q

Explain how Goode’s (Functional Fit Theory) lead to Higher Divorce?

A
  • Divorce increased as family’s become isolated from EF

- So more burden on couples due to no support from other relatives.

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13
Q

Explain how Dennis (Functional Fit Theory) lead to Higher Divorce?

A

Believes as family performs fewer functions bonds w/ husband & wife are weaker.

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14
Q

Explain how Allan & Crowe (Functional Fit Theory) lead to Higher Divorce?

A

Families no longer economic unit so easier for them to break up.

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15
Q

Explain the Feminist Explanation on Higher Divorce?

A
  • Girls now wage earners so less financially dependent on husband, so more likely to end marriage.
  • Girls do ‘triple shift’ creating conflict w/ couples.
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16
Q

Explain the Bernard’s Radical Feminist Explanation on Higher Divorce?

A
  • 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.
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17
Q

A03 Criticisms of Divorce Key Sociologists

A

> Cooke & Gash (Feminist Explanation)

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18
Q

Explain Cooke’s & Gash’s Criticisms of Feminist Explanations

A

No evidence working women more likely to divorce, as working now accepted norm for married women

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19
Q

Explain the Beck & Giddens Modernity and Individualisation Explanation on Higher Divorce?

A

> 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.

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20
Q

Views of Divorce Key Sociologists

A

> 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)

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21
Q

What is the New Right view on Meaning of High Divorce Rate?

A
  • 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.
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22
Q

What is the Postmodernists view on Meaning of High Divorce Rate?

A
  • Encourages individuals to have freedom to choose to end relationships.
  • Leads to greater family diversity
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23
Q

What is the Feminist view on Meaning of High Divorce Rate?

A
  • Divorce laws helped women to gain freedom, independence and equality.
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24
Q

What is the Interactionists view on Meaning of High Divorce Rate?

A
  • 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.
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25
Q

What is the PLP view on Meaning of High Divorce Rate?

A

Led to financial issue & lack of contact w/ kids and non-resident parents

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26
Q

What is Smart’s PLP view on Meaning of High Divorce Rate?

A
  • 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.
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27
Q

Marriage & Partnerships Key Sociologists

A

> 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)

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28
Q

What are the Trends in Marriage?

A

> Declining
NO of Remarriages is rising
Ppl getting married later

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29
Q

Reasons for Changing Patterns in Marriage

A

> Postmodernism
Women more Financially Independent
Secularisation and Declining Stigma
Medical Advancement & Impact of Increased LE

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30
Q

Explain Postmodernism (Beck) in relation to Reasons for Changing Patterns in Marriage (1)

A
  • 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
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31
Q

Explain Postmodernism (Beck and Giddens) in relation to Reasons for Changing Patterns in Marriage (2)

A
  • 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.
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32
Q

A03 Reasons for Decline in Marriage Sociologists

A

> New Right (Postmodernism)
Radical Feminists (Women More Financially Independent)
New Right (Cohabitation & Declining Stigma)
Murphy (Cohabitation & Declining Stigma)

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33
Q

Explain Women more Financially Independent in relation to Reasons for Changing Patterns in Marriage

A
  • 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.
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34
Q

Radical Feminists Criticisms of Women More Financially Independent

A

> 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.

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35
Q

Explain Secularisation and Declining Stigma in relation to Reasons for Changing Patterns in Marriage

A
  • 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’’
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36
Q

New Right Criticisms of Cohabitation and Declining Stigma

A

> 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.

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37
Q

Murphy Criticisms of Cohabitation and Declining Stigma

A

Kids of cohabiting parents are disadvantaged.

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38
Q

Explain Medical Advancement & Impact of Increased LE in relation to Reasons for Changing Patterns in Marriage

A

> 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

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39
Q

Define Cohabitation

A

Unmarried couple in a sexual relationship living together

40
Q

Trends in Cohabitation

A

Increased

41
Q

Reasons for Increase in Cohabitation

A

> Less Stigma to sex outside marriage

> Improved Economic Position of Women - don’t need financial security of marriage.

> Secularisation

> More equality in cohabiting relationships > heterosexual

42
Q

Explain the Relationship between Cohabitation and Marriage

A

> As Cohabitation increases, marriages decreases

> Relationship between 2’s not clear, as some see Cohabitation as Trial Marriage or an alternative to marriage entirely.

43
Q

Explain Chester & Coast’s findings on what the Main Reason for Cohabitation is?

A
  • For most people, cohabitation’s part of process of getting married
  • 75% of cohabiting couples say there expecting to marry each other.
44
Q

Explain the Idea of Cohabitation as a Trial Marriage

A

> Many use cohabitation as a trial marriage, plan to marry if it goes well.
Most cohabiting couples marry if they have kids

45
Q

Explain Benjin’s idea of Cohabiting being an alternative to Marriage, going against the idea of Cohabitation as a Trial Marriage?

A
  • Young ppl want negotiated & = relationship not patriarchal marriage.
46
Q

Explain Shelton & John findings on Cohabiting Women & Domestic Tasks

A
  • Cohabiting Women, do less housework than those in married
47
Q

What are Stonewall’s findings on SSC couples?

A

> Recent acceptance of SSC relationships.

> Equal rights e.g marriage and adoption rights.

48
Q

What are Weeks findings on Chosen Families for SSC’s?

A

> SSC cohabitation resembling straight cohabitations.

> LGBT create chosen families w/ friendship as kinship, w/ same & stability as heterosexuals.

49
Q

What are Weston’s findings on SSC cohabitation?

A
  • SSC cohabitation is a quasi marriage, cohabiting as stable partners.
  • Contrast vs gay attitudes in 70s, rejecting monogamy & family life in opting for casual relationships.
50
Q

What are Alan and Crow’s findings on SSC Cohabitation in comparison to heterosexual couples?

A

SSC negotiate responsibilities more than married couples, and more flexible & less stable than heterosexual relationships.

51
Q

What are Einasdottir findings on Gays & Attitudes to Civil Partnerships

A
  • Many gays optimistic to have partnerships legally recognised.
  • Others feel it may limit flexibility of relationships, wanting their relationships to be different from heterosexuals.
52
Q

What is the trend in One-Person Households?

A

> Risen
Almost ½ of OPH are 65+
Men under 65, most likely to live alone.

53
Q

What are the 4 Reasons for One Person Households?

A

> Increasing divorce, especially w/ men under 65

> After divorce kids likely to live w/ mum, w/ dad more likely to leave.

> Later marriage, so more ppl remaining single

> Lots of ppl now make deliberate choice to live alone.

54
Q

Define LAT’s

A

Couples in relationships, living separately.

55
Q

What are Trends in LATs

A

1/10 adults live in LATs

56
Q

Why do people choose to live in LATs

A

Through choice or restriction e.g. as they can’t afford to or it’s too early to cohabit

57
Q

What are Public Attitudes to LATs?

A

> Not abnormal ppl today feel couples don’t have to live together to have strong relationships

> For some it’s their ideal relationship.

58
Q

Outline the Trends in Childbearing?

A

> 47% of kids born outside marriage, mostly from cohabiting parents

> Women having kids later & and more are remaining childless, as they have more options e.g. a career.

59
Q

Reasons for Changes in Childbearing

A

> Less stigma for births outside wedlock and increase in cohabitation.
Later age women having kids
More women remaining childless.
Women want career 1st, more options than kids

60
Q

What Fraction of Families do LPF account for?

A

Account for ¼ of all families.

61
Q

Why have LPF risen?

A

Risen due to increased divorce & decline in stigma to births outside wedlock.

62
Q

Why are LPF mostly headed by women?

A

90% of LPF, headed by women, due to belief they’re suited to expressive role + courts giving mums custody.

63
Q

Reasons for Rise in LPF

A

> Increase in Divorce
Less Stigma
Increase in Never Married women having kids
Death of 1 Parent

64
Q

Murray on New Right View on LPF?

A

> Blame overgenerous welfare benefits from state offering perverse incentives, rewarding irresponsible sexual behaviour.

> Creating a dependency culture, where ppl rely on state to support them.

> Solutions to abolish Welfare Benefits.

65
Q

Cashmore on LPF criticising New Right view

A

WC mums with less income rely on welfare benefits, due to abuse.

66
Q

Renvoize on LPF criticising New Right view

A

WC women can provide for kids without father.

67
Q

Criticisms of New Right view on LPF (Murray)

A

> Childcare’s expensive, stops LPF mothers working

> Failure of Fathers to pay maintenance, especially if they have 2nd family, they need to support

68
Q

Why are Reconstituted Families increasing?

A

Due to divorce & remarriage

69
Q

Where are Kids in RF mostly from?

A

Kids mostly from woman’s previous relationship

70
Q

What % of RF do they account for?

A

Account for over 10% of families w/ dependent kids

71
Q

Why are RF at higher risk of poverty?

A

At higher risk of poverty, cuz they’ve got more kids & supporting kids from prev relationships.

72
Q

What were Ferri and Smith’s findings on how RF families are similar to 1st families?

A
  • SF, similar to 1st families in all aspects

- Involvement of SF in childcare is a positive one, but RF have greater risk of poverty.

73
Q

What were Allan and Crown findings on problems RF families face?

A

SF may face problems of divided loyalties and issues e.g. contact w/ non-resident parents, creates tension.

74
Q

What are Tensions faced by SF result of?

A

Tensions faced by SF, result of lack of clear social norms on how to behave in SF.

75
Q

Ethnic Differences in Family Patterns Key Sociologists

A

> Mirza (Explanation for Female-Headed LPF)
Reynolds (Stats on LPF)
Ballard (Development of Asian Families)

76
Q

What type of families are blacks most likely to be?

A

> More likely to be LPF

> ½ of black families were LPF.

77
Q

How does Family Disorganisation explain Female-Headed LPF?

A

Due to high unemployment rates of black men, they can’t provide for families, leading to marital breakdown.

78
Q

How does Mirza explain Female-Headed LPF?

A

Pattern of LPF for blacks, due to value of black women on independence, not disorganisation.

79
Q

How does Reynolds argue the stats on LPF are misleading?

A

Many LPF are stable supportive non-cohabiting relationships.

80
Q

What’s the pattern in households of South Asians vs White British?

A

South Asians have larger households, compared w/ White British households, but mostly NF not EF

81
Q

What are Larger Households of South Asians due to?

A

> Younger age profile of Asians, higher NO are in childbearing age groups vs pop as whole.

> And high values placed on EF

82
Q

What were Ballards findings on importance of Extended Families in Asian Households?

A

> EF ties provide vital support for Asian Migrants, when migrating to UK during 50s & 60s.

> In early period of migration, Asian houses often shared by EF

> But later on, Asian households were NF w/ relatives living nearby, visiting often.

83
Q

Which religions are most likely to live in EF?

A

Sikhs, Muslims and Hindus

84
Q

EF Key Sociologists

A

> Parsons (View on EF)

> Charles (EF in Swansea)

> Wilmott (Dispersed EF)

> Chamberlain (Caribbean EF)

> Bell (Differences in EF w/ WC & MC)

> Finch & Mason (Obligations to Relatives)

> Cheal (Obligation to Relatives vs Sons & Daughters)

> Mason (Daughters Role in Obligations to Relatives)

85
Q

What was Parsons Functionalist Idea of Extended Family (EF)?

A

Parsons believed EF was dominant type in pre-industrial society, but’s been replaced with NF.

86
Q

What was Charles findings on EF in Swansea

A

3 gen family all living under same roof is extinct, except city’s Bengali community.

87
Q

What was Wilmott’s view on EF?

A

> EF may have declined, but it’s not fully extinct.

> Still exists as dispersed EF living close, not together but communicating through frequent visits & phone calls.

88
Q

Chamberlain Study of Caribbean Extended Families

A

> Despite EF being dispersed, EF still provide support, w/ close and frequent contact.

> Uncles & Aunts + Cousins who make big contribution to childcare.

89
Q

What were Colin Bell’s Findings on EF

A

> In Swansea, both WC & MC had emotional bonds w/ extended kin & relying on them for support.

> In MC, there was financial support w/ father & son.

> WC had frequent contact w/ domestic help from mothers to daughters.

90
Q

Define Beanpole Family

A

> Seen as long and thin, extended vertically through 3+ generations e.g. Grandparents, Parents, Kids.

> Not horizontally not incl. aunts or cousins etc.

91
Q

What 2 Demographics Changes have led to BF?

A

> Increased LE, more surviving grandparents & great grandparents
Smaller family sizes, ppl have fewer siblings so less horizontal ties.

92
Q

Explain Finch and Mason’s idea of Obligations to Relatives?

A

90% of ppl had received or gave financial help to relatives, half cared for sick relatives.

93
Q

Explain Cheals idea of Obligations to Relatives vs Sons & Daughters?

A
  • When a OAP women needs personal care daughter/daughter in law is preferred > sons
  • Sons relied on to provide money.
94
Q

How does Mason criticise Cheal’s view?

A

Not all daughters help, depends on history of relationship & obligation they feel.

95
Q

How are all the findings Different from Parsons idea of EF?

A

> EF’s still performs important functions

> e.g. financial & domestic help

> Different from Parson’s, where members lived together & bound by strong mutual obligation