Divorce

Question 1

Declining stigma

Answer 1

-Mitchell and Goody
- Stigma has decreased since 1960

Question 2

Changing patterns of divorce

Answer 2

-Between 1961 and 1969 divorces doubled and doubled again by 1972

Question 3

Changes in the law

Answer 3

1969 Divorce Law Reform Act

Question 4

Modernity and Individualisation

Answer 4

-Beck and Giddens
-Individuals are free to persue their own self interests.
-People are less willing to compromise.

-These leads to increase in divorces

Question 5

Increased secularisation

Answer 5

-less people influenced by religion
-Churches less harsh in divorce

Question 6

Women’s increased financial independence

Answer 6

-Girls greater achievement in education
-Welfare benefits

Question 7

Rising expectations

Answer 7

-Fletcher (Functionalist)
- Divorces are due to expectations being too high.
-Still optimistic about concept of marriage as second marriages have risen.

Eval - Feminists - Ignores the oppression of women.

Question 8

Feminist explanations

Answer 8

-Hothschild - Women are valued at work but the the home, this leads to resentment

-Bernard( Radical) - Rising divorce rates is due to women breaking out of the patriarchy