Changing Patterns (5) Flashcards
What are three forms that a marriage can breakdown?
Divorce
Separation
Empty-shell marriages
What is separation?
Separation is when couples agree to live apart the breakdown of marriage, however they remain legally married. In the past this was sometimes the only solution to the breakdown of marriage as divorce was often too expensive or difficult to obtain.
What are empty-shell marriages?
Empty-shell marriages are where a husband and wife stay together in name only, there is no love or intimacy left between them. Many couples stay in this sort of relationships as a matter of respect. Although such marriages are likely to end in separation or divorce many couples are forced to live together.
What are the explanations for the increase in divorce?
- Changes in the law.
- Declining stigma and changing attitudes.
- Secularisation.
- Rising exceptions.
- Changes in the position of women.
How have changes in the law increased the amount of divorces?
Changes in the law in the last century have made it much easier and cheaper to get divorced. They have also given men and women equal rights to divorce.
The changes in the law very much reflects the changing in social attitudes and norms on marriage and divorce.
In 1971 divorces could be granted on ‘irretrievable breakdown’ (which means no marital offence needed to have been committed), this resulted in the divorce rate almost doubling.
This means that people may turn to divorce as a way of solving problem in a marriage before looking into other options.
The office for national statistics show that divorces rose from just over 20,000 in 1950 to 74,437 in 1971.
How has the decline in stigma and social attitudes increased the amount of divorces?
There is less stigma and social disapproval to divorce in contemporary society. As a result people are less afraid to resort to divorce as a means of solving marital problems.
Hidden secrets argues this is a consequence of people perusing individual choices, as opposed to feeling confined by social attitudes.
It is social disapproval to divorce so people are less afraid to use divorce as solving their marital problems.
How has secularisation increased the amount of divorces?
Secularisation refers to the declining influence of religious beliefs.
This has resulted in traditional religious beliefs about being a sin have less impact on society.
This is reflected in the church’s softening attitudes towards divorce and divorces.
Less influence of religious beliefs means that people can get married without being seen as such a sin.
How has rising expectations of marriage increased the amount of divorces?
Functionalists such as Fletcher and Parsons argue that the higher expectations people place on marriage today are a major cause for rising divorce rates. Higher expectations make people less willing to tolerate an unhappy marriage.
The functionalist approach therefore argues that the higher divorce rates actually reflects a better quality of those marriages which remain married. The higher expectations of marriage also reflected in the higher remarriage rates among divorced couples.
Marriage has highly expectations so more likely to get divorced if not happy.
How had changes in the position of women increased the amount of divorces?
This is a very important reasons for the rising divorce rate. Around 2/3 divorce petitions are entitled by divorce.
One of the reasons could be that the improvement in women’s economic conditions mean they no longer need to rely on a husband.
Another reason could be that Baylor billeting with their welfare benefits.
Feminists argue that women expect the limitations of life and the quality of their relationships have arisen during the course of the last century.
Before women would stay because they wouldn’t be able to support themselves financially.
What are the feminists exploitation divorce?
Feminists argues that married women today suffer from a butyl burden; they are required to take on paid work in addition to performing domestic labour (housework and childcare). Feminists believe this has created a new source of conflict between husbands and wives, and it’s contributing to the high divorce rate.
While there has been huge improvements for women in the public sphere, feminists argue that the private sphere of the family and personal relationships change has been limited and slow. Many feminists argue that marriage remains patriarchal, with men benefiting from their wives ‘triple shift’ of paid work, domestic work and emotional work.
What does Hochschild (1997) argue about divorce?
Hochschild (1997) argues that for many women, the home compares unfavourable with work. At work, women feel valued, whereas at home men’s continuing resistance to doing housework is a source of frustration and makes marriage less stable.
What do Functionalists argue about divorce?
Functionalists such as Parsons and Felt her argue that the high divorce rate is because people now demand more of marriage and does not signify that marriage as a social institution is under threat. They argue that people are more likely to end a marriage now that may have been acceptable in the past.
Therefore Fletcher argues that the higher divorce rates may not indicate a decline in the value of marriage but higher standards people of marriage.
What do the New Riight argue about divorce?
New Right sociologists argue that divorce statistic support their belief that there is a serious crisis in the family. According to them the high divorce rates undermine the traditional nuclear family. They believe that divorce is too easy as a result people are not as committed to marriage and the family as they once were.
What do feminists argue about divorce?
Feminists argue that the rise in divorce rates highlights the rise in opportunities women now have. Women no longer have to be reliant upon a husband. They are earning their own money and have their own careers. This all means that their priorities have now changed and marriage and children are not as important as they once were.
What do postmodernist argue about divorce?
Postmodernist see high divorce rates as giving individuals the freedom to choose to end a relationship when it no longer meets their needs. They see it a main cause of family diversity.
What do interactionists argue about divorce?
Interactionists aim to understand what divorce means to the individuals. Morgan (1996) argues that we cannot generalise the meaning of divorce because every individual interpretation of it is different.
What are the reasons for the changes in marriage rates?
Changes in the law. Secularisation. Declining stigma to alternatives to marriage. Changes to the position of women. Changing attitudes to marriage.
What is cohabitation?
Cohabitation involves an unmarried couple living together, without the legal responsibilities of being married.
What are the reasons people choose to cohabit instead of get married?
The changing role of women: women are now more successful in education and this is beginning to be reflected in the labour market, as women seek to pursue their own career and less willing to take on the demands associated with the housewife and mother role. Women’s growing financial independence and equality in cohabiting relationships means they have less need to get married.
Changing social attitudes and reducing social stigma: young people are more likely to cohabit and all couples, reflecting more easy-going attitude to cohabitation.
Growing secularisation: according to the 2001 consensus, young people with no religious belief were more likely to cohabit.
The rising divorce rates: some social adjusts argue that this may deter couples from getting married, many obtaining a cohabit instead. However the high remarriage rate is a direct criticism for the argument that people have become disenchanted with the institution of marriage.
Reducing risk: Beck (1992) argues that we are now living in a risk society and we are especially being affected by the risk of divorce. He argues that many young couples now choose to cohabit as a way of avoiding the risk of association with being in a long-term legal commitment marriage entails.
What is the reason for the increase in same sex families?
The law has been changed so that this family type can happen legally.
Decline in secularisation - against some religions.
What is the reason for the increase in one person households?
Less religious - do not believe they need to stay married so get divorced and live apart.
Women’s career - focusing on that and not going into relationships.
Divorce laws - made it easier to get out of a marriage.
What is the reason for the increase in living apart together (LAT) families?
There has been an increase I the importance of jobs so people move away from their family/partner to take a better job that is far away.
Women want a career that is good but could be in a distance.
What is the reason for the increase in step families?
Increases in the amount of divorce as it is easier and cheaper to do so.
What are the theoretical perspective evaluating points of same sex families?
-Functionalists - believe in the nuclear family which involves heterosexual adults.
What are the theoretical perspective evaluating points of one person households?
+Feminists - women don’t need a ma
What is divorce?
Divorce refers to the legal termination of marriage. 1969 Divorce Law Reform Act meant that for the first time marriage could be ended on the terms of ‘irretrievable breakdown’ without a marital offence being committed by either husband or wife. Since 1984 couples have been able to petition for divorce after the first year of marriage.
What is separation?
Separation is when couples agree to live apart after the breakdown of marriage, however they remain legally married.
What is an empty-shell marriage?
Empty-shell marriages are where a husband and wife stay together in name only, there is no love or intimacy left between then. Many couples stay in this sort of relationship as a matter of respect. Although such marriages are likely to end in separation or divorce many couples are forced to live together.
How is changes in the law causing an increase in divorce?
Changes in the law in the last century have made it much easier and cheaper to get divorced. They have also given men and women equal rights in divorce.
The changes in the law very much reflect the changing social attitudes and norms on marriage and divorce.
In 1971 divorces could be granted based on ‘irretrievable breakdown’ (which means no marital offence needed to have been committed), this resulted in the divorce rate almost doubling.
It made getting divorced much easier, cheaper and quicker. This means that people may turn to divorce as a way of solving problems in the marriage before looking into other options.
This is shown in the office for national statistics as divorce rates rose from just over 20,000 in 1950 to 74,437 in 1971.
How is changes in the law causing the increase in divorce?
Changes in the law in the last century have made it much easier and cheaper to get divorced. They have also given men and women equal rights in divorce.
The changes in the law very much reflect the changing social attitudes and norms on marriage and divorce.
In 1971 divorces could be granted based on ‘irretrievable breakdown’ (which means no marital offence needed to have been committed), this resulted in the divorce rate almost doubling.
It made getting divorced much easier, cheaper and quicker. This means that people may turn to divorce as a way of solving problems in the marriage before looking into other options.
This is shown in the office for national statistics as divorce rates rose from just over 20,000 in 1950 to 74,437 in 1971.
How is the decline in stigma and social attitudes causing an increase in divorce?
There is less stigma and social disapproval to divorce in contemporary society. As a result people are less afraid to resort to divorce as a means of solving marital problems.
Giddens argues this is a consequence of people perusing individual choices, as opposed to feeling confined by social attitudes.
How is secularisation causing an increase in divorce?
Secularisation refers to the declining influence of religious beliefs.
This has resulted in traditional religious beliefs about divorce being a sin have less impact on society.
This is reflected in the church’s softening attitudes towards divorce and divorces.
How is rising expectations of marriage causing an increase in divorce?
Functionalists such as Fletcher and Parsons argue that the higher expectations people pace on marriage today are a major cause of rising divorce rates. Higher expectations make couples less willing to tolerate an unhappy marriage.
The functionalist approach therefore argues that the higher divorce rate actually reflects a better quality of those marriages which remain married. The higher expectations of marriage are also reflected in the higher re-marriage rates amongst divorced couples.
How is changes in the position of women causing an increase in divorce?
About two thirds divorce petitions are initiated by divorce.
One of the reasons could be the improvement in women’s economic conditions means they no longer need to rely on a husband.
Another reason could be the availability of the welfare benefits.
Feminists argue that women expectations of life and the quality of their relationships have risen during the course of the last century.
What are the feminists explanations for divorce?
Feminists argue that married women today suffer a dual burden; they are required to take on paid work in addition to performing domestic labour (housework and childcare). Feminists believe this has created a new source of conflict between and wives, and is contributing to the higher divorce rate.
While there has been huge improvements for women in the public sphere, feminists argue that in the private sphere of the family and personal relationships change has been limited and slow. Many feminists argue that marriage remains patriarchal, with benefiting from their wives ‘tripe shift’ of paid work, domestic work and emotion work.
What did Hochschild (1997) argue about divorce?
Hochschild (1997) argues that for many women, the home compares unfavourable with work. At work, women feel valued, whereas at home men’s continuing resistance to doing housework is a source of frustration and makes marriage less stable.
