Changing Patterns Flashcards
1
Q
What are the different changes in family patterns?
A
1) . Divorce.
2) . Marriage.
3) . Cohabitation.
4) . Lone-parent households.
5) . The extended family.
2
Q
What has been the trend in the number of divorces since the 1960s?
A
1961 - 1969 = doubled.
1969 - 1972 = doubled again.
3
Q
Which year did the number of divorces peak?
A
1972 = 165,000.
4
Q
What happened to the number of divorces in 2012?
A
Fallen = 118,000.
- due to = fewer people are marrying (choosing to cohabitate instead).
5
Q
What percentage of marriages end in a divorce?
A
40%.
6
Q
What percentage of divorces come from women?
A
65%.
1947 = 37%.
7
Q
What are the explanations for the increase in divorce?
A
1) . Changes in the law.
2) . Declining stigma and changing attitudes.
3) . Secularisation.
4) . Higher expectations of marriage.
5) . Women’s increased financial independence.
8
Q
What are the 3 kinds of changes in the laws that made divorce easier for women in the 20th Century?
A
1) . Equalising the grounds for divorce between the sexes.
2) . Widening the grounds for divorce (making divorce easier to obtain).
3) . Making divorce cheaper.
9
Q
When did these law changes occur?
A
- Equalising the grounds = 1923.
- Widening the ground = 1971.
- Making divorce cheaper (legal aid) = 1949.
10
Q
What is stigma?
A
Negative label, disapproval or shame attached to a person or group.
11
Q
What has caused the decline in stigma?
A
Churches used to condemn divorce, however, churches have a lower influence in society now.
12
Q
How has the decline in stigma led to an increase of divorce?
A
Divorce has become more accepted =
- people are more likely to resort to it.
- normalising divorce further reduces the stigma.
13
Q
What is secularisation?
A
The decline in the influence of religion in society.
14
Q
How has secularisation led to an increase of divorce?
A
Churches oppose divorce =
- many people aren’t influenced by the church to get divorced or not.
- churches are gradually accepting divorce, making it easier.
15
Q
Who says higher expectations of marriage has led to more divorce?
A
Fletcher (19660 - functionalist.
16
Q
How has higher expectations of marriage led to an increase in divorce?
A
Before =
people married with little choice, the family was a unit of consumption.
Now =
people marry for love, if love dies, people divorce; people are more dissatisfied with marriage.
17
Q
Why are functionalists optimistic about marriage?
A
The high rate of re-marriage shows divorcees haven’t fully rejected marriage.
18
Q
How has women’s greater financial independence led to an increase in divorce?
A
- Women are now in paid work.
- More lone-parent families.
- This makes women less economically dependent on men, so can afford divorce.
19
Q
What is the feminist explanation on divorce?
A
- Women perform a dual burden at home.
- Although their position has improved at work, if has been sow at home.
- So women perform a triple shift (unequal).
20
Q
What does Hochschild (1997) say the reason for higher divorces are?
A
- Women are unequal at home (men are reluctant to do housework).
- This makes marriage unstable and women get frustrated.
- So they want a divorce.
21
Q
What statistics does the feminist explanation help explain?
A
Why 70% of divorce petitions are from women.
22
Q
Who proposes the modernity reason for divorce?
A
Beck and Giddens (1992).
23
Q
What is the modernity explanation for more divorces?
A
Greater individualisation.
- traditional norms (having the same partner for life) lose their hold.
- so people become unwilling to stay married if their marriage fails.
- people pursue self-interest instead.
24
Q
What does the New Right say the effects of divorce is on society?
A
- it undermines the nuclear family (need for social stability).
- creates an underclass of welfare-dependent female lone-parents who are a burden.
- these lone-parents inadequately socialise their children.
25
What do feminists say the effects of divorce is on society?
Desirable =
- shows women breaking free from patriarchy.
26
What do postmodernists say the effects of divorce is on society?
- shows freedom of individuals to choose to end a relationship.
- see it as a major cause of family diversity.
27
What is the Interactionist perspective on divorce?
Aim to understand its meaning to the individual.
- can't generalise it's meaning.
- domestic violence; it can be good to have a divorce.
28
What is the personal life perspective on divorce?
It can cause financial and childcare issues =
- however, it has become 'normalised', and we should see it as a transitional life course (positive).
29
What statistics show fewer people are marrying?
2012 = 175,000 (half of 1970).
30
What statistics show there are more re-marriages?
2012 = 1/3 of all marriages were re-marriages.
31
What is meant by 'serial-monogamy'?
A pattern of marriage - divorce - re-marriage.
32
What statistics show people are marrying later?
Average age of marriage rose by 7 years from 1971 to 2012.
- 32 for men.
- 30 for women.
33
What statistics show less people are marrying in churches?
1981 = 60%.
2012 = 30%.
34
What are the patterns (trends) of marriage?
1) . Fewer people are marrying.
2) . More re-marriages.
3) . People are marrying later.
4) . Less marriages in churches.
35
What are the reasons for these trends of marriage?
1). Changing attitudes to marriage =
less pressure to marry, more freedom to choose.
2). Alternatives =
cohabitation as it is less stigmatised now.
3). Women's economic independence =
less dependent, giving them freedom not to marry.
4). Impact of feminism =
some women see marriage as a patriarchal institution.
5). Rising divorce rates =
put some women off marrying.
36
What is the reason for more re-marriages?
More divorce means more divorcees available to re-marry.
37
What is the reason for later marriages?
Young people spend longer in education, and usually choose cohabitation before marriage.
38
What is the reason for fewer church weddings?
- Secularisation.
| - Some churches not marrying divorcees.
39
What is cohabitation?
An unmarried couple in a sexual relationship living together.
40
What is the trend in cohabitation?
Increasing, whilst marriages are decreasing.
41
How many cohabitated heterosexual couples are there in Britain?
2. 9 million.
| - double the number in 1996.
42
How many cohabitated homosexual couples are there in Britain?
69,000.
43
What is meant by 'serial cohabitants'?
Cohabitants with one or more previous cohabitants.
- about 1/5 of cohabitants are 'serial'.
44
What are the reasons for the increase in cohabitation?
1). Decline in stigma attached to outside marriage sex =
partly due to secularisation.
2). Women's improved economic position =
don't need the financial security of marriage.
3). Secularisation =
non-religious young people are more likely to cohabitate.
45
What does Chester argue about cohabitation?
For most people, it's part of the process of getting married.
46
What may cohabitation be?
1). Trial marriage =
if all goes well, then marriage is after cohabitation.
2). An alternative to marriage =
couples who see marriage as patriarchal may prefer to cohabitate.
47
What did Shelton and John (1993) find about housework in cohabitated couples?
Women tend to do less housework.
48
According to Stonewall, what percentage of adults are in a same-sex relationship?
5-7%.
49
Why is it hard to judge whether there is an increase in homosexual relationships?
Because in the past it was heavily stigmatised and illegal.
50
What year was homosexuality decriminalised?
1967 - for consenting adults over 21.
51
How does Weeks (19990 describe gay couples?
Acceptance is leading to more stable relationships, increasing cohabitation.
- they create families based on 'friendship as kinship'.
52
What is the trend in one-person households?
Increasing
- 2013 = 3/10 households (3x of that in 1961).
53
What percentage of one-person households are over 65?
40%.
54
By 2033, what percentage of adults will be single?
30%.
55
What is the reason for the increase in one-person households?
Separation and divorce =
- especially men under 65.
- after divorce, they are more likely to move out of the home, leaving the children with the mother.
56
What is the trend in childbearing?
1) . More children born outside of marriage.
2) . Women are having children later.
3) . Women are having fewer children than in the 20th Century.
4) . More women are remaining childless.
57
How many children are born outside of marriage?
Nearly half (47%) --> 5x more than in 1971.
58
What statistics show that women are having children later?
Between 1971 and 2012 =
- average age of birth rose by 4 years to 28.1 years.
59
What statistics show that women are having fewer children?
Average children per women =
- 1964 = 2.95.
- 2001 = 1.63.
- 2010 = 1.94 (slight increase).
60
What shows women are remaining childless?
Predicted that =
- 1/4 of those born in 1973 will be childless when they reach 45.
61
What is the reasons for these childbearing changes?
1). Rise in babies outside of marriage =
decline in stigma and increased cohabitation.
2). Having children later, or remaining childless =
women have other options than just motherhood, many want a career first.
62
What percentage of families are lone-parent?
1/4 of all families.
63
What are the trends in lone-parent families?
1) . 90% headed by lone mothers.
- Until 1990s = divorced women biggest group of lone-parents.
- Early 1990s = single women biggest group.
64
How many times more likely is a child in lone-parents families going to be in poverty?
2x.
65
What is the reasons for this pattern of lone-parent families?
1) . Increase divorce.
| 2) . Decline in stigma of births outside of marriage.
66
Why doe lone-parent families tend to be female headed?
1) . Belief that women are suited to the expressive role.
2) . Divorce courts tend to give custody to mothers.
3) . Men tend to be less willing to give up work than women.
4) . Women may choose to be single.
67
According to Murray (New Right), what is the reason for the increase in lone-parent families?
Over-generous welfare benefits =
- encourage the increase of lone-parent families.
68
According to Murray, what has the generous welfare benefits led to?
A 'perverse incentive' =
- rewards irresponsible behaviour (having children without the ability to afford them).
69
What does Murray say the solution is to get rid of the 'dependency culture'?
To abolish welfare benefits.
70
What are the criticisms of the New Right perspective on lone-parent families?
1) . Welfare benefits aren't generous --> they are 2x more likely to be in poverty.
- 60% are unemployed.
- women tend to earn less.
- fathers tend to fail to pay maintenance, making them poor.
71
What percentage of families are step (reconstituted) families?
Over 10%.
72
What percentage of stepfamilies have children from the woman's previous relationship?
85%.
- 11% are from the males.
73
What did Ferri and Smith (1998) find about stepfamilies?
Very similar to first families (childcare and childbearing = positive).
- But at a greater risk of poverty.
74
What did Allan and Crow (2001) find about the issues with stepfamilies?
Contact with the children's other parent can cause tension.
75
What are the reasons for stepfamilies?
1) . Same as those causing lone-parent families (increase separation and divorce).
2) . Children are more likely to remain with the mother when a break up occurs.
76
Why are stepfamilies at a greater risk of poverty?
- Often have more children (from 2 families).
| - May have to support children from previous relationships.
77
What are the main ethnic differences in family patterns?
1) . More black lone parents.
| 2) . Larger Asian households.
78
What percentage of lone-parent families are black?
51%
- White = 23%.
- Asian = 11%.
79
What are the reasons for high rates of female-headed black lone-parent families?
1). Legacy of slavery =
women stayed with the mother, carried on as a life pattern.
2). Black male unemployment =
less able to provide for the family - resulting in marital breakdown.
3). Black women's pride on independence.
80
What is the average family size of Asian families?
4. 4, 4.3 and 3 persons per household.
| - compared with 2.4 of black Caribbean and white British households.
81
What are the reasons for the large Asian families?
1). Younger age =
in the childbearing age demographic.
2). Need for assistance when migrating =
extended families were a source of support when migrating.
82
What is the main family type of Asian families?
Nuclear - with frequent visiting a source of kinship support.
83
What is the functionalist perspective on the extended family?
Parsons =
- industrialisation = replaced it with the nuclear family.
84
How does Willmott (1988) describe the extended family?
It hasn't fully disappeared =
- it exists as a 'dispersed extended family'.
85
According to Willmott, what is a dispersed extended family?
Relatives are geographically separated but maintain frequent contact through visit and phone calls.
86
What does Brannen (2003) say a 'beanpole' family is?
Extended vertically =
- involved 3+ generations: grandparents, parents, children.
- but no horizontal (aunts, uncles, etc).
87
What study supports the 'beanpole' family view?
Bell (1968) =
- study of w/c and m/c families with emotional support from kins (children).
- m/c = more financial support from father to son.
- w/c = lived closer and more domestic help from mothers to daughters.
88
What is the cause of the 'beanpole' family?
1). Increased life expectancy =
more surviving grandparents (also great grand...).
2). Smaller family sizes =
fewer siblings, so fewer horizontal ties.
89
What is meant by obligations to relatives?
- People still feel obliged to help their wider extended kin, despite the rise in the beanpole family.
90
What did Finch and Mason (1993) find about people helping their extended kin?
Half of their sample had cared for a sick relative.
- however, they found more is expected of females than males.
91
What is the variability in what is expected of different relatives?
Cheal =
- daughters = chosen for as caregivers for elderly.
- sons = chosen to provide money.
92
What did Mason (2011) find about relatives playing an equal part in helping relatives?
- It depends on the history of their relationship.
| - An the responsibilities they have --> gives them an 'excuse' not to be involved.
93
What does the evidence suggest about the extended family?
- It continues to play an important role in providing practical and emotional support.
94
How does the evidence surrounding the support of the extended family contradict Parsons findings?
He found the extended family were in conflict of hierarchy during industrialisation, not in support.
95
Overall, what are the main changing patterns of the family?
1). Increased divorce =
due to less stigma, secularisation and greater women's independence.
2). Fewer marriages, but more re-marriages =
due to less stigma and secularisation, also more divorces put women off.
3). Increased cohabitation =
same reasons as fewer marriages.
4). Increased lone-parent families =
decreased stigma, welfare benefits and greater freedom.
5). Increased same-sex household =
due to greater acceptance and more policies for equality.
6). Increase one-person household =
due to having more childless women and greater divorce.
7). Women are having children later, or not at all.
due to putting a career first.
8). Increased stepfamilies =
due to more divorce and laws allowing women to file for divorce.
9). More black lone-parent families, larger Asian families =
due to support and history of slavery.
10). 'Beanpole' family =
due to increased life expectancy and smaller families.
