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
Define Cohabitation
Unmarried couple in a sexual relationship living together
Trends in Cohabitation
Increased
Reasons for Increase in Cohabitation
> 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
Explain the Relationship between Cohabitation and Marriage
> As Cohabitation increases, marriages decreases
> Relationship between 2’s not clear, as some see Cohabitation as Trial Marriage or an alternative to marriage entirely.
Explain Chester & Coast’s findings on what the Main Reason for Cohabitation is?
- For most people, cohabitation’s part of process of getting married
- 75% of cohabiting couples say there expecting to marry each other.
Explain the Idea of Cohabitation as a Trial Marriage
> Many use cohabitation as a trial marriage, plan to marry if it goes well.
Most cohabiting couples marry if they have kids
Explain Benjin’s idea of Cohabiting being an alternative to Marriage, going against the idea of Cohabitation as a Trial Marriage?
- Young ppl want negotiated & = relationship not patriarchal marriage.
Explain Shelton & John findings on Cohabiting Women & Domestic Tasks
- Cohabiting Women, do less housework than those in married
What are Stonewall’s findings on SSC couples?
> Recent acceptance of SSC relationships.
> Equal rights e.g marriage and adoption rights.
What are Weeks findings on Chosen Families for SSC’s?
> SSC cohabitation resembling straight cohabitations.
> LGBT create chosen families w/ friendship as kinship, w/ same & stability as heterosexuals.
What are Weston’s findings on SSC cohabitation?
- 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.
What are Alan and Crow’s findings on SSC Cohabitation in comparison to heterosexual couples?
SSC negotiate responsibilities more than married couples, and more flexible & less stable than heterosexual relationships.
What are Einasdottir findings on Gays & Attitudes to Civil Partnerships
- Many gays optimistic to have partnerships legally recognised.
- Others feel it may limit flexibility of relationships, wanting their relationships to be different from heterosexuals.
What is the trend in One-Person Households?
> Risen
Almost ½ of OPH are 65+
Men under 65, most likely to live alone.
What are the 4 Reasons for One Person Households?
> 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.
Define LAT’s
Couples in relationships, living separately.
What are Trends in LATs
1/10 adults live in LATs
Why do people choose to live in LATs
Through choice or restriction e.g. as they can’t afford to or it’s too early to cohabit
What are Public Attitudes to LATs?
> Not abnormal ppl today feel couples don’t have to live together to have strong relationships
> For some it’s their ideal relationship.
Outline the Trends in Childbearing?
> 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.
Reasons for Changes in Childbearing
> 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
What Fraction of Families do LPF account for?
Account for ¼ of all families.
Why have LPF risen?
Risen due to increased divorce & decline in stigma to births outside wedlock.
Why are LPF mostly headed by women?
90% of LPF, headed by women, due to belief they’re suited to expressive role + courts giving mums custody.
Reasons for Rise in LPF
> Increase in Divorce
Less Stigma
Increase in Never Married women having kids
Death of 1 Parent
Murray on New Right View on LPF?
> 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.
Cashmore on LPF criticising New Right view
WC mums with less income rely on welfare benefits, due to abuse.
Renvoize on LPF criticising New Right view
WC women can provide for kids without father.
Criticisms of New Right view on LPF (Murray)
> Childcare’s expensive, stops LPF mothers working
> Failure of Fathers to pay maintenance, especially if they have 2nd family, they need to support
Why are Reconstituted Families increasing?
Due to divorce & remarriage
Where are Kids in RF mostly from?
Kids mostly from woman’s previous relationship
What % of RF do they account for?
Account for over 10% of families w/ dependent kids
Why are RF at higher risk of poverty?
At higher risk of poverty, cuz they’ve got more kids & supporting kids from prev relationships.
What were Ferri and Smith’s findings on how RF families are similar to 1st families?
- SF, similar to 1st families in all aspects
- Involvement of SF in childcare is a positive one, but RF have greater risk of poverty.
What were Allan and Crown findings on problems RF families face?
SF may face problems of divided loyalties and issues e.g. contact w/ non-resident parents, creates tension.
What are Tensions faced by SF result of?
Tensions faced by SF, result of lack of clear social norms on how to behave in SF.
Ethnic Differences in Family Patterns Key Sociologists
> Mirza (Explanation for Female-Headed LPF)
Reynolds (Stats on LPF)
Ballard (Development of Asian Families)
What type of families are blacks most likely to be?
> More likely to be LPF
> ½ of black families were LPF.
How does Family Disorganisation explain Female-Headed LPF?
Due to high unemployment rates of black men, they can’t provide for families, leading to marital breakdown.
How does Mirza explain Female-Headed LPF?
Pattern of LPF for blacks, due to value of black women on independence, not disorganisation.
How does Reynolds argue the stats on LPF are misleading?
Many LPF are stable supportive non-cohabiting relationships.
What’s the pattern in households of South Asians vs White British?
South Asians have larger households, compared w/ White British households, but mostly NF not EF
What are Larger Households of South Asians due to?
> Younger age profile of Asians, higher NO are in childbearing age groups vs pop as whole.
> And high values placed on EF
What were Ballards findings on importance of Extended Families in Asian Households?
> 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.
Which religions are most likely to live in EF?
Sikhs, Muslims and Hindus
EF Key Sociologists
> 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)
What was Parsons Functionalist Idea of Extended Family (EF)?
Parsons believed EF was dominant type in pre-industrial society, but’s been replaced with NF.
What was Charles findings on EF in Swansea
3 gen family all living under same roof is extinct, except city’s Bengali community.
What was Wilmott’s view on EF?
> 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.
Chamberlain Study of Caribbean Extended Families
> Despite EF being dispersed, EF still provide support, w/ close and frequent contact.
> Uncles & Aunts + Cousins who make big contribution to childcare.
What were Colin Bell’s Findings on EF
> 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.
Define Beanpole Family
> Seen as long and thin, extended vertically through 3+ generations e.g. Grandparents, Parents, Kids.
> Not horizontally not incl. aunts or cousins etc.
What 2 Demographics Changes have led to BF?
> Increased LE, more surviving grandparents & great grandparents
Smaller family sizes, ppl have fewer siblings so less horizontal ties.
Explain Finch and Mason’s idea of Obligations to Relatives?
90% of ppl had received or gave financial help to relatives, half cared for sick relatives.
Explain Cheals idea of Obligations to Relatives vs Sons & Daughters?
- When a OAP women needs personal care daughter/daughter in law is preferred > sons
- Sons relied on to provide money.
How does Mason criticise Cheal’s view?
Not all daughters help, depends on history of relationship & obligation they feel.
How are all the findings Different from Parsons idea of EF?
> EF’s still performs important functions
> e.g. financial & domestic help
> Different from Parson’s, where members lived together & bound by strong mutual obligation
