reasons for increase in divorce Flashcards
divorce
the legal termination of a marriage
what is the general trend in divorce?
general increase since 1970s
give the name of the acts that occurred in:
1969, 1973, 1984, 2013, 2014, 2020
1969: divorce reform act
1973: matrimonial causes act
1984: matrimonial and family proceedings act
2013: same sex marriage act
2014: children and families act
2020: divorce, dissolution and separation act
what did the matrimonial causes act cause in divorce?
equalised the grounds for divorce between the sexes as both partners could petition for divorce
what did the divorce reform act cause in divorce?
widened the grounds for divorce, as irretrievable breakdown which was added for grounds for divorce
what did the legal aid act cause in divorce?
divorce was made more accessible as allowed people financially struggling to get a divorce
what did the divorce dissolution and separation act 2020 cause in divorce
removed unnecessary conflict and allowed one partner to state it wasn’t working (e.g. helped sexual abuse victims)
minimum wait from application to a divorce was reduced to 20 weeks
what are the 3 other solutions to the problem of unhappy marriage that aren’t divorce?
dissertation: where one partner leaves the other but they remain legally married
legal separation: where a court separates the financial and legal affairs of the couple but they remain married and are not free to re-marry
empty shell marriage: where the couple continue to live under the same roof but remain marred in name only
briefly explain how the decline in stigma and changing attitudes have caused an increase in divorce (include Mitchell & Goody)
Mitchell and Goody note there has been a rapid decline in stigma attached to divorce since the 1960s, meaning divorce has become more acceptable.
stigma
the negative label, social disapproval or shame attached to a person, action, or relationship.
give an example of divorce stigma declining
divorce parties
briefly explain how Beck and Giddens postmodernist theory of modernity and individualisation link to how the decline in stigma has made divorce more acceptable
argue traditional norms such as the duty to remain with the same partner for life, loose their hold over individuals. their individualisation thesis suggested that each partner would be free to pursue his/herself interest beyond a marriage that no longer satisfied their self fulfilment. therefore they think that people now seek a pure relationship (one that focuses solely to satisfy each partner’s needs) which has caused higher divorce rates.
