F&H: Changing Family Patterns Flashcards
identify at least 3 major changes in family and household patterns from the past 50 years
-number of traditional nuclear families decreased
-fewer first marriages, but more re-marriages
-people now marry later in life
-more cohabitation
-same sex relationships can be legally recognised
-women have fewer children, and later in life
-more births outside of marriage
-more single parent families
-more reconstituted families
-more couples without children
NAME the 6 factors influencing family structure
1) CHANGES IN ATTITUDES
2) CHANGES IN SCIENCE / TECHNOLOGY
3) CHANGES IN THE LAW
4) CHANGING OPPORTUNITIES (WOMEN ESPECIALLY)
5) LIFESPAN
6) ECONOMIC FACTORS
outline 2 trends regarding marriage
-long term decrease in number of marriages per year
-cohabitation is increasing, fastest growing household type, with younger people more likely
-marriage rate is slightly higher for men, still decreasing
-marriage rate has halved over the last 30 years
-median age of first marriage is rising
-drastic decrease in religious ceremony marriages
give an example of a different attitude based on class towards marriage
working class couples are more likely to cohabit - financial consideration
which 3 postmodern ideas can support the view that changes it attitudes has led to the decline in marriage / rise in cohabitation
1Beck & Giddens Individualisation thesis - there is less stigma attached to cohabitation meaning people don’t feel forced to marry.
2Giddens desire for pure relationships - People also have higher expectations so want to ‘trial-marriage’
3Beck rise in risk consciousness - aware that the divorce rate is increasing, so avoid marriage
how would the new right explain changes in attitudes influencing the decline in marriage
decline in marriage = decline in moral standards
how have changes in science / technology influenced the decline in marriage + the rise in cohabitation
people can have sex outside of marriage with less consequences which makes marriage ‘less necessary’. Birth control + contraception mean adults can have sexual relationships whilst avoiding parenthood
how have changes in the law influenced the decline in marriage + the rise in cohabitation
the introduction of civil partnerships affords the same legal rights to a couple as if they were married, making marriage less attractive + ‘necessary’
how have changing opportunities (women) influenced the decline in marriage + the rise in cohabitation
women have more opportunities in education + employment. women may be able to support themselves financially so don’t get married
how have changes in lifespan influenced the decline in marriage + the rise in cohabitation
life expectancy has increased - we tend to delay marriage + have more time to experiment before ‘settling down’
how have economic changes influenced the decline in marriage + the rise in cohabitation
the average wedding in the UK in 2022 cost £18,400
why do functionalists + the new right support marriage
they believe that marriage is the most functional way to ensure the next generation are reproduced / socialised. monogamous marriage stabilises adult personalities
