Changing Patterns- Divorce, Marriage,Cohabitation,Child bearing,Family types and life course

Question 1

How has the divorce rate changed ?

Answer 1

Since 1880 divorce has generally decreased but around 1970-2000 the rate started to fluctuate a lot. up until 1950 most divorces were filed by men as women couldn’t apply for a divorce. Nowadays women are filing for divorce more often, 50% of marriages end in divorce.

Question 2

Evaluate the divorce rate changes !

Answer 2

Interpretivists argue that official statistics don’t highlight the empty shell marriages.
Positivists argue that official statistics are good because they produce quantitative data which shows patterns and trends.
Legal changes- historically men were the only ones allowed to file for divorce, but now divorce is easier due t divorce laws such as the Divorce Reform At 1969 (irretrievable breakdown of marriage) and the Matrimonial & Family Proceedings Act 1984 (divorce after 1 year instead of 3)

Question 3

Identify 4 reasons for the increase in divorce ?

Answer 3

Changing social values- Less social stigma around divorce so it’s seen as more acceptable so there is less pressure to stay together.
Individualisation- y.o.l.o
Secularisation- Religion is less influential on society so it’s not frowned upon to break marriage vows.
Confluent love- where you don’t experience the fairy tale love experience so it doesn’t last and it’s enough reason to divorce.

Question 4

How has marriage trends changed ?

Answer 4

Marriage is decreasing in 20 years the amount of marriages declined by 109,000 this was in between 1971-1991. Today the amount of weddings that take place in a church has dropped to 36% where in 1981 it was 80%.
The average age for a women to marry is 30 and 32 for a man. The average cost of a wedding today is around £22,000

Question 5

Identify 4 reasons for the decline in marriage ?

Answer 5

Secularisation- marriage was seen as religious but as religion has less influence on society more people are just cohabiting.
The amount of divorces is off putting- 50%, so 1/2 of marriages end in divorce which is enough to put people of getting married so they don’t waste their money and time.
The cost of marriage- the average marriage cost £22,000 which most people cannot afford.
Emancipation of women- a lot of job are now career focused and they put love and marriage second because they want to have nice material possessions and a house.

Question 6

How many people are cohabiting today ?

Answer 6

1.5 million, more people for their second long term relationship instead of first.

Question 7

identify 4 reason why people cohabit ?

Answer 7

part of marriage process- prelude to marriage
trial marriage- test relationship before legal ties.
alternative to marriage
absence of legal ties

Question 8

Identify 4 reason why cohabitation is increasing ?

Answer 8

Changing attitudes and social values- no longer a sin to live and sleep with your partner before marriage.
Effective contraception- able to live together without fear of pregnancy.
changes in divorce- cohabitation is an alternative to marriage as divorce puts people off marriage.
Changes in parental control, education and housing- there is less control over people leaving home for reasons other than marriage e.g. education- university. Also housing is short so more places will rent to unmarried couples.

Question 9

How has child bearing patterns changed ?

Answer 9

The average amount of children has dropped from 6 in 1870 to 1.8 in 1998. Along with this the average household size has dropped from 4.6 people to around 2.4 people.
The average age people are having children has increased from 26 to 29 in 1970-1999.
The percentage of lone parents has increased from 3% (1961) to 12% (2006),

Question 10

What did Chester 1985 say about families ?

Answer 10

Most people will be a nuclear family at some point. single parents and cohabiting couples will eventually marry.

Question 11

Identify 4 reason for the increase in lone parent families ?

Answer 11

Divorce increase- easier, quicker and cheaper.
Teen pregnancy- The partner may not accept responsibility
Medical advances- Ivf allows women to get pregnant without a partner.
Welfare state- women don’t need men to provide for them as the government will help by providing benefits etc.

Question 12

Historically what was the most common reason for lone parents and what is now ?

Answer 12

Historically it was death of spouse but nowadays it’s divorce and teen pregnancy

Question 13

What did Murray say about welfare state ?

Answer 13

Women become married to the state which has created the dependency culture= underclass

Question 14

What did Allen and Crow say that can be used to evaluate Murray ?

Answer 14

Most single parents find a partner within a couple of years and don’t rely on benefits- this is supported by Department for work and pensions 2004.

Question 15

Identify 3 Positives of Lone parent families ?

Answer 15

• Many children do well at school and are raised extremely well.
• eliminates the possibility of parents fighting which has a negative effect on children
• no other family type is perfect, they still get criminals and educational underachievers.

Question 16

Identify 3 Negatives of Lone parent families ?

Answer 16

• Functionalists and New right- Children need two role models, one male and one female otherwise they won’t achieve their full potential.
• Research suggests children do worse at school and are likely to get a poor paid job and be a lone parent themselves.
• Lone parents are more likely to be on benefits, this isn’t fair to those who work and pay tax.

Question 17

Has the amount of Reconstituted families increased or decreased ?

Answer 17

increased, they now make up 10% of all families.

Question 18

Identify 4 reasons why the amount of Reconstituted families have increased ?

Answer 18

Divorce- allows for a second chance at love.
Secularisation- marriage isn’t for life any more.
Loss of social stigma- more acceptable as divorce is more common etc.
Longer life expectancy- makes people re re-evaluate whether they want to be married to this person for the rest of their life or whether they want a second chance at love.

Question 19

Have the number of same sex families increased or decreased ?

Answer 19

Increased

Question 20

Identify 3 Positives of Same sex families ?

Answer 20

Feminists- women aren’t exploited and oppressed by men.
Children are more accepting of all family types and of sexualities.
children are wanted more as they have to be made or a long process to go through to adopt one.

Question 21

identify 3 negatives of same sex families ?

Answer 21

Functionalists- lack opposite gender role model so they wont be socialised properly and they wont achieve their full potential.
There are limited options for men.
Children maybe bullied for not having traditional parents.

Question 22

Identify the stages of the life cycle ?

Answer 22

Birth-childhood-adolescence-youth-adult-parenthood-middle age-old age- death.

Question 23

Parsons said what about life stages ?

Answer 23

people pass through them with different social roles associated with them:
Childhood- be socialised into societies culture
adolescence- develop independence
old age- loss of social roles.

Question 24

What did Pilcher say about the life cycle ?

Answer 24

There isn’t a life cycle because not everyone passes through each stage.