Changing patterns - marriage

Question 1

What are the 4 main changes in marriage patterns?

Answer 1

Marriage rates are declining

More re-marriages

People are marrying later in life

Couples less likely to marry in a church.

Question 2

Why was there a long-term decline in marriage since the 1970’s?

Answer 2

Increase in men and women delaying marriage or not marrying at all.

Increase in cohabitation as a precursor or alternative.

Question 3

Name 2 Policies that have decreased marriage rates:

Answer 3

DIVORCE REFORM ACT 1971 - allowed for divorce without proving adulty - made divorce more accessible which increased fear so less marriages

ASYLUM AND IMMIGRATION ACT 2004 - required non-european immigrants to give notice of an intended marriage - had to prove love and commitment so did not marry.

Question 4

What happened in 2019-2020 that affected marriage?

Answer 4

Lockdown and COVID - couldn’t leave house to marry, wedding limit etc.

Question 5

Give a fact about opposite sex marriages:

Answer 5

Number of opposite sex marriages has fallen by 50% since 1970’s.

Question 6

Give reasons for the change in marriage rates.

Answer 6

Change in attitudes to marriage

Secularisation

Decline in stigma attached to marriage alternatives

Change in position of women

Fear of divorce.

Question 7

What did a change in attitudes towards marriage lead to?

Answer 7

Greater freedom, less pressure to marry.
People have option to choose their relationship type and status.

Question 8

What did Giddons say?

Answer 8

People will delay marriage to focus on finding their ‘pure relationship’ - quality of relationship is more important than its legal status.

Question 9

How has secularisation led to a decline in marriage?

Answer 9

Church has less influence, so sacred idea of marriage has lost impact.

Question 10

How has a decline in stigma affected marriage rates?

Answer 10

Decline in traditional values led to change in stigma
In past, pregnancy outside wedlock and cohabitation was shamed - shotgun wedding - father of woman would threaten partner with shotgun if didn’t marry.

More accepted to live together or alone without marriage.

Question 11

How has a change in women’s positioning led to change in marriage patterns?

Answer 11

Women less reliant on men.

Sue Sharpe - changing in girls ambitions.

Feminisation of economy - less economically dependent so can achieve her own success

Question 12

What did Plummer say?

Answer 12

Women who are economically secure see a husband as a choice - greater freedom to not marry/wait for pure relationship.

Question 13

How does a fear of divorce affect marriage rates?

Answer 13

50% OF MARRIAGES END IN DIVORCE.

People see divorce as a failure so are put off marriage.

Cost of marriage is too high - average wedding cost 25k

Question 14

Name a policy that led to an increase in marriages:

Answer 14

SAME SEX MARRIAGE ACT 2014 - heterosexual couples can now marry, making them apart of the stats.

Number of civil partnerships decreased as they can now marry.

Question 15

How was 2019-2023 impacted marriage?

Answer 15

Lowered marriage rates:
Courts closed during COVID
Wedding restrictions
Cost of living crisis means people don’t have money to spend.

Question 16

What is serial monogamy?

Answer 16

A pattern of marriage, divorce, remarriage - staying faithful to one person at a time.

Question 17

Give a statistic about remarriages:

Answer 17

The number of remarriages has steadily increased since 2012, accounting for 1/3 of all marriages.

Question 18

Why are more women marrying at a younger age than men?

Answer 18

They are more financially secure.

Younger women are more fertile than older.

Question 19

Give a statistic on marrying later in life:

Answer 19

25% increase in marriages for 65-69 year olds.

Question 20

What percentage of marriages are civil ceremonies?

Answer 20

70%

Question 21

What do feminists regard marriage as?

Answer 21

A patriarchal institution that benefits men more than women.W

Question 22

What does WILKINSON say about changing patterns?

Answer 22

GENDERQUAKE - females no longer prioritise marriage and children due to feminisation of economy.

Question 23

What do the NEW RIGHT believe about marriage?

Answer 23

Alarmed by changing patterns.

Institution of marriage is under threat because policies and welfare benefits put people off marriage which then leads to a dysfunctional family (aka not a NF).

Question 24

List reasons why there is an exaggeration regarding the decrease in marriage stats.

Answer 24

People delay marriage rather than reject it - e.g. careers, cohabitation

Question 25

What evidence is there to support the statement “marriage is a middle class institution”

Answer 25

1/3 more M/C were married than W/C.
Corse et al - unstable working environment means they are less likely to get married.

Cost is too high

Question 26

What did Berthoud say about ethnic differences in marriage?

Answer 26

75% of Pakistani and Bangladeshi tend to be married by 25 compared to 50% of White American.

Question 27

Which ethnic group are the least likely to get married?

Answer 27

British African Caribbeans - live as female lone single parents

Question 28

Why are Asian people less likely to marry outside their ethnic/religious groups?

Answer 28

Frowned upon in their culture.

Question 29

Give me a fact about arranged marriages:

Answer 29

Arranged marriages account for 55% of marriages in the world.

Question 30

What did Epstein state about arranged marriages?

Answer 30

They tend to grow more stable as time goes on - love marriages are more likely to deteriorate.

Those who marry for love or are blinded by love and passion often lead to seperation.

Question 31

How do arrange marriages work?

Answer 31

Involves mutual discussion about a proposed match - consent given.

Families will look for compatibility in terms of beliefs, values, interests and goals.

Question 32

What is a forced marriage?

Answer 32

A marriage conducted without the valid consent of both parties where emotional and possible physical pressure is put on one individual or both.

Question 33

Why may forced marriages not show accurately in statistics?

Answer 33

Victims may be reluctant to come forward because they are unwilling to report their family to the police.

May not want to bring shame about their family or may be fearful of the consequences.

Question 34

What has a loss of honour resulted in?

Answer 34

Honour crimes in some cultures - e.g. abduction, acid attacks, mutilation and even murder.

Question 35

Give a statistic on forced marriages?

Answer 35

82% victims are female, 18% are males.