Divorce

Question 1

What is a STATISTIC about the DIVORCE RATE
| why has rate fallen now

Answer 1

• Number has DOUBLED between 1961 and 1969, and DOUBLED AGAIN by 1972
  SINCE 1993 the numbers have FALLEN but remain high.
  The rate has fallen as FEWER PEOPLE NOW MARRY

Question 2

What are the 5 NON THEORETICAL REASONS for DIVORCE

Answer 2

(1) Changes in Law
(2) Declining Stigma and Changing attitudes
(3) Secularisation
(4) Rising Expectations
(5) Women’s increased Financial Independence

Question 3

Explain Non Theoretical Reason for Divorce - CHANGES IN LAW

Answer 3

• EQUALISING GROUNDS for DIVORCES between SEXES - 1923 -> FOLLOWED by SHARP RISE in NUMBER of DIVORCE PETITIONS by WOMEN
• WIDENING GROUNDS OF DIVORCE - 1971 - made divorce EASIER to OBTAIN and PRODUCED a DOUBLING of DIVORCE RATE almost overnight
• MAKING DIVORCE CHEAPER –> introduction of legal aid for divorce 1949 -> divorce RISE

Question 4

Explain the Non Theoretical Reason for Divorce - DECLINING STIGMA AND CHANGING ATTITUDES

Answer 4

• MITCHELL and GOODY - important change since 1960s been the RAPID DECLINE in the STIGMA attached to DIVORCE
• AS STIGMA DECLINES and divorce becomes MORE SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE, couples become MORE WILLING to RESORT to DIVORCE as a means of solving their marital problems
• BECOME NORMALISED and more likely to be REGARDED as a MISFORTUNE , NOT SHAMEFUL

Question 5

What is Secularisation?

Answer 5

the DECLINE in the INFLUENCE of RELIGION in society

Question 6

Explain the Non Theoretical Reason for Divorce - SECULARISATION

Answer 6

• RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS and IDEAS are LOSING their INFLUENCE and SOCIETY becoming MORE SECULAR
• as a result, TRADITIONAL OPPRESSION of Churches to DIVORCE carries LESS WEIGHT in society , people LESS LIKELY to be INFLUENCED by RELIGIOUS TEACHINGS
• many churches have began to SOFTEN their VIEWS on DIVORCE and divorcees perhaps because they FEAR losing CREDITABILITY with large section of the public and with their own members

Question 7

Explain the Non Theoretical Reason for Divorce - RISING EXPECTATIONS of MARRIAGE

Answer 7

• FLETCHER -.
• HIGHER EXPECTATIONS make COUPLES LESS WILLING to TOLERATE an UNHAPPY MARRIAGE , Marriage should be BASED on SOLELY LOVE
• in PAST, People were UNLIKELY to have HIGH EXPECTATIONS about MARRIAGE - had LITTLE CHOICE , OFTEN for FINANICAL REASONS
• TODAY, MARRIAGE is INCREASINGLY VIEWED as a RELATIONSHIP where INDIVDIDUALS SEEK PERSONAL FULFILMENT, ENCOURAGING Couples to DIVORCE IF they DON’T FIND IT

Question 8

Explain the Non Theoretical Reason for Divorce - WOMEN’S INCREASED FINANICAL INDEPENDENCE

Answer 8

• INCREASED WILLINGLESS to SEEK DIVORCE is that IMPROVEMENTS in Their ECONOMIC POSITION have MADE them LESS FINANCIALLY DEPENDANT on their HUSBAND and THEREFORE are FREER to END an UNSATISFACTORY MARRIAGE
• EQUAL PAY and ANTI-DISCRIMINATION LAWS have HELPED NARROW PAY GAP , giving them GREATER SUCCESS
• WOMEN are now BETTER ABLE to SUPPORT THEMSELVES in EDUCATION
• ALLAN and CROW - are FEWER FAMILY FIRMS and FAMILY is NO LONGER a UNIT OF CONSUMPTION, so SPOUSES are LESS DEPENDENT on EACHOTHER

Question 9

Explain the Theoretical Reason for Divorce - FEMINIST EXPLANATIONS

Answer 9

• argue that MARRIED WOMEN today BEAR a DUAL BURDEN : REQUIRED to TAKE On PAID WORK in ADDITION to PERFORMING DOMESTIC LABOUR
• has CREATED a NEWS SOURCE of CONFLICT between HUSBAND and WIVES LED to HIGHER DIVORCE RATES

Question 10

Explain the Theoretical Reason for Divorce - MODERNITY/POST MODERNITY

Answer 10

• BECK & GIDDENS - in MODERN SOCIETY , TRADITIONAL NORMS (e.g. Duty to Remain with Same Partner for Life) LOSE their HOLD OVER INDIVIDUALS
• as a Result , EACH INDIVIDUALS become FREE to PERSUE their OWN SELF INTERESTS - INDIVDUALISATION THESIS
• RELATIONSHIPS thus Become MORE FRAGILE as INDIVDUALS SEEK the ‘PURE RELATIONSHIP’ , Relationship LASTS AS LONG AS the LOVE LASTS
• therefore HIGHER DIVORCE RATES