Changing patterns - marriage Flashcards
What are the 4 main changes in marriage patterns?
Marriage rates are declining
More re-marriages
People are marrying later in life
Couples less likely to marry in a church.
Why was there a long-term decline in marriage since the 1970’s?
Increase in men and women delaying marriage or not marrying at all.
Increase in cohabitation as a precursor or alternative.
Name 2 Policies that have decreased marriage rates:
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.
What happened in 2019-2020 that affected marriage?
Lockdown and COVID - couldn’t leave house to marry, wedding limit etc.
Give a fact about opposite sex marriages:
Number of opposite sex marriages has fallen by 50% since 1970’s.
Give reasons for the change in marriage rates.
Change in attitudes to marriage
Secularisation
Decline in stigma attached to marriage alternatives
Change in position of women
Fear of divorce.
What did a change in attitudes towards marriage lead to?
Greater freedom, less pressure to marry.
People have option to choose their relationship type and status.
What did Giddons say?
People will delay marriage to focus on finding their ‘pure relationship’ - quality of relationship is more important than its legal status.
How has secularisation led to a decline in marriage?
Church has less influence, so sacred idea of marriage has lost impact.
How has a decline in stigma affected marriage rates?
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.
How has a change in women’s positioning led to change in marriage patterns?
Women less reliant on men.
Sue Sharpe - changing in girls ambitions.
Feminisation of economy - less economically dependent so can achieve her own success
What did Plummer say?
Women who are economically secure see a husband as a choice - greater freedom to not marry/wait for pure relationship.
How does a fear of divorce affect marriage rates?
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
Name a policy that led to an increase in marriages:
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.
How was 2019-2023 impacted marriage?
Lowered marriage rates:
Courts closed during COVID
Wedding restrictions
Cost of living crisis means people don’t have money to spend.
What is serial monogamy?
A pattern of marriage, divorce, remarriage - staying faithful to one person at a time.
Give a statistic about remarriages:
The number of remarriages has steadily increased since 2012, accounting for 1/3 of all marriages.
Why are more women marrying at a younger age than men?
They are more financially secure.
Younger women are more fertile than older.
Give a statistic on marrying later in life:
25% increase in marriages for 65-69 year olds.
What percentage of marriages are civil ceremonies?
70%
What do feminists regard marriage as?
A patriarchal institution that benefits men more than women.W
What does WILKINSON say about changing patterns?
GENDERQUAKE - females no longer prioritise marriage and children due to feminisation of economy.
What do the NEW RIGHT believe about marriage?
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).
List reasons why there is an exaggeration regarding the decrease in marriage stats.
People delay marriage rather than reject it - e.g. careers, cohabitation
What evidence is there to support the statement “marriage is a middle class institution”
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
What did Berthoud say about ethnic differences in marriage?
75% of Pakistani and Bangladeshi tend to be married by 25 compared to 50% of White American.
Which ethnic group are the least likely to get married?
British African Caribbeans - live as female lone single parents
Why are Asian people less likely to marry outside their ethnic/religious groups?
Frowned upon in their culture.
Give me a fact about arranged marriages:
Arranged marriages account for 55% of marriages in the world.
What did Epstein state about arranged marriages?
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.
How do arrange marriages work?
Involves mutual discussion about a proposed match - consent given.
Families will look for compatibility in terms of beliefs, values, interests and goals.
What is a forced marriage?
A marriage conducted without the valid consent of both parties where emotional and possible physical pressure is put on one individual or both.
Why may forced marriages not show accurately in statistics?
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.
What has a loss of honour resulted in?
Honour crimes in some cultures - e.g. abduction, acid attacks, mutilation and even murder.
Give a statistic on forced marriages?
82% victims are female, 18% are males.
