FAMILIES AND HOUSEHOLDS: CHANGING FAMILY PATTERNS Flashcards
The change in divorce rates:
-Since the 1960’s divorce rates have dramatically increased in the UK. Currently 40% of all marriages end in divorce. Divorce rates showed a continuous increase until 1993 where it they then peaked.
Why did the divorce rates show a peak in the 1990’s?
-Number of marriages has fallen since the 1990s as people are choosing to cohabit.
Trend in petitions for divorce:
-Today 65% of petitions for divorce come from women. In 1946 only 37% of women petitioned for divorce.
-The most common reason for women wanting to divorce is unreasonable behaviour of her husband.
Explanations for the increase in divorce:
-1. Changes in the law: 1969 Divorce Law Reform Act
2. Declining stigma and changing attitudes
3. Secularisation
4. Rising expectations of marriage
5. Women’s increased financial independence
6. Feminist explanations
7. Modernity and individualisation.
Changes in the law which have made divorce more obtainable:
-1923- Equalising the grounds for divorce: rise in divorce rates for women.
1971- Widening the grounds for divorce: rates doubled almost overnight.
1949- Making divorce cheaper: Legal aid for divorce cases- made it more obtainable for working class.
Options other than divorce:
-Desertion, legal separation, and an empty shell’ marriage.
-Due to divorce becoming easier to obtain these options have become less popular.
Desertation
-One person will leave the other but they remain legally married.
Legal seperation
-Where a court separates financial and legal affairs but the two remain married.
Empty shell’ marriage
-The two still live together but remain married only in name.
Stigma
-Refers to negative label, social disapproval or shame attached to something such as, an action.
Stigma attached to divorce
-Divorce in the past tended to be stigmatised by the church.
-Mitchell&Goody(1997) argue since the 1960’s this stigma has decreased.
-As divorce becomes more socially acceptable, it is more likely couples will resolve their problems this way.
-Divorce is merely seen as a “misfortune”
Secularisation
-This refers to the church becoming less influential in society. The Church was the main opposer of divorce and so society is now more accepting of divorce.
-Churches are beginning to soften views on divorce to remain relevant/ credible
Fletcher(1966)
-Suggests the high expectations of marriage are the main cause of the increase in divorce rates. High expectations make couples less tolerant of unhappiness.
Ideology of romantic love
-The belief marriage should be based upon love with the idea you have found “Mr or Mr right”. If the marriage fails it allows the individual to find “the one” for them. This goes against the past as people married due to sense of duty as the family was a unit of production. People did not have high expectations on marriage.
Allan and Crow(2001)
-Argue that people no longer see marriage as a binding contract. They see it as a relationship in which they seek personal fulfilment. If this is not met, divorce occurs.
Changing position of women
-Women are no longer reliant upon men and are now more free to leave a marriage if it is unsatisfactory due to their increased financial dependency.
Factors contributing the improved position of women
-More women are in paid work: 1971=53% 2013=67%.
Girls tend to achieve greater in education.
Equal pay and anti discrimination laws.
Welfare benefits.
Feminist explanation:
-Women suffering a dual burden results in conflict of couples, and increases the divorce rates. Women’s position in the public sphere has improved but privately marriage remains patriarchal.
Hochschild(1997):
-Argues that home life for women is unfavourable compared to their working life, within the work place they are treated as equals.
-Home life is a constant source of frustration over housework which results in conflict.
-Men and women work long hours and cannot resolve their conflicts, both reasons contribute to the higher divorce rates.
Sigle-Rushton(ESRC, 2007):
-Argues that women which carry a dual burden are more likely to divorce than non working mothers are will leave their husband if he fails to value her domestic work or won’t pull his weight
Bernard(1976):
(Radical feminist)
-Argues that increased divorce rates are a reaction to the increasing acceptance of feminist ideas and acknowledgement of the patriarchal marriage (being more conscious) which women are more likely to reject.
Beck and Giddens(1992)
(individualism contributing to a higher divorce rate)
-Argue that in a modem society traditional norms lose their influence.
-Individuals take less interest in living up to the expectations of society, and seek personal fulfilment such as perusing our own self interest.
-This leads to relationships being more fragile due to personal fulfilment tending not to be met and so individuals seek what Giddens refers to as a pure relationship.
-Therefore, individualism can bring about conflict between couples e.g. disagreements over work or spending money which can cause divorce.
what is a pure relationship?
-Giddens: this relationship exists simply to satisfy the needs of the other person. This leads to an increase in divorce rate and normalises the idea of it.
why are functionalists optimistic about marriage despite the higher divorce rates?
-because most people still marry and may remarry showing people haven’t rejected the idea of marriage together.
