Divorce: Lesson 27 Pt.2

Question 1

What are the reasons for changing trends for divorce?

Answer 1

Changes in law
- Declining stigma & changing attitudes
- Secularisation
- Rising expectations of marriage
- Changes to position of women
- Modernity & individualism

Question 2

Key points in changing law

Answer 2

• Divorce Reform Act 1969
• The Legal Aid and Advice Act 1949
• Laws allowing divorce to be more easily obtained causes increase
• Grounds for divorce changed making it easier to obtain

Question 3

Key points on changing social attitudes

Answer 3

• Less negative stigma
• Divorce is normalised & more socially acceptable
• Mitchell & Goody 1997

Question 4

What did Mitchel & Goody 1997 say?

Answer 4

• Rapid decline in stigma to divorce linked with rising rates
• People increasingly choose divorce as solution to marital problems

Question 5

Key points on secularisation

Answer 5

• Process where religious beliefs and institutions lose importance or influence
• Religion traditionally encouraged marriage
• Church marriages at all time low
• People less likely to be influenced by religions teachings to not get divorced

Question 6

Key points on rising expectations of marriage?

Answer 6

Fletcher 1966
- ‘Romantic love’- idea of Mrs & Mr right become dominant
- Higher expectations of marriage means people less likely to stay in unhappy marriages
- Supported by re-marriage rates
- Marriage used to have economic component: family unit of production, married as it’s a duty

Question 7

Key points on changing of women’s positions

Answer 7

• Improvement to women’s economic position makes them less dependent on men
• Dual burden for women
• Feminists say mens failure to take on share of domestic duties contributes to divorce rates