Families & Households - Changing Family Patterns

Question 1

What have been the changes in general trends in the family that have been increasing?

Answer 1

Divorce, remarriage & cohabitation
Lone parent families
People who live alone
Step-families/blended families
Marrying in later life

Question 2

What have been the changes in general trends in the family that have been decreasing?

Answer 2

Traditional nuclear family households
First marriages
Large families

Question 3

What is divorce?

Answer 3

The legal termination of a marriage

Question 4

What is the major cause for changing family patterns & greater diversity?

Answer 4

Divorce

Question 5

What are some consequences of divorce?

Answer 5

Lone parent households
Remarriage

Question 6

What are some statistics of divorce?

Answer 6

Divorce doubled between 1961 & 1969, then doubled again between 1969 & 1972
Divorce rate was 118000 in 2012 (6x higher than 1961)
40% of marriages will end in divorce
65% of petitions for divorce come from women, 1946 -> 37% came from women

Question 7

Why has the divorce rate increased since 1961?

Answer 7

Decreased tolerance for DV/adultery
More legal access to divorce
Increase in standards & expectations for marriage
More socially acceptable -> due to changing attitudes & declining stigma
Increase in secularisation
Women’s increased financial independence

Question 8

How has the law changed from 1857 to 1969?

Answer 8

Pre 1857 -> divorce virtually non-existent & only attainable by special & expensive parliamentary act
1857 -> men could divorce unfaithful wives, women had to prove cruelty/matrimonial offences (expensive)
1921-> 3000 divorces
1923-> grounds for divorce equalised for men & women
1937-> grounds for divorce widened to include desertification & adultery
1949-> legal aid available & more affordable
1961-> 27000 divorces (9x more than 1921)
1969 -> divorce reform act came into effect (1971) & made it irretrievable breakdown of marriage were the sole grounds for divorce (had to prove behaviour of e.g. adultery/desertification/separation with/without consent -> divorce available after 2 years agreed separation

Question 9

How has the law changed from 1984-2014?

Answer 9

1984 -> minimum period of marriage before petition could be filed was reduces from 3 to 1 year
1996 -> family law act encouraged couples to seek medication but allows divorce after ‘period of reflection’
2004 -> civil partnership act allows legal dissolution of a civil partnership on same grounds of marriage (irretrievable breakdown)
2007 -> (appeal court ruling) divorce rulings -> principal of equality applies so the starting point is 50-50 split of all assets (including salaries & pension rights)
2014 -> same sex marriage legal -> grounds of divorce apply for both gay & straight couples

Question 10

What were the 3 kinds of change in the law for divorce?

Answer 10

Equal grounds
Widening grounds
Making divorce cheaper

Question 11

What is stigma?

Answer 11

A negative label of social disapproval/shame attached to a person, action or relationship

Question 12

What happened in the past surrounding divorce?

Answer 12

The church tended to condemn divorce & often refused to conduct marriage services for divorcees

Question 13

SOCIOLOGIST: What did Mitchell & Goody say about declining stigma & changing attitudes about divorce?

Answer 13

They note important change since the 1960s has caused a rapid decline in stigma attached to divorce & as stigma continues to decline & divorce becomes more socially acceptable couples are more likley to see divorce as a meas of solving marital problems

Question 14

What is secularisation?

Answer 14

A decline of religious influence in society

Question 15

How has secularisation changed over time?

Answer 15

Church attendance has been declining due to less religious influence, therefore the traditional opposition of the church of divorce carries less weight in society & people are less likley to be influences by religious teachings when making decisions -> churches have softened their views on divorce

Question 16

What did the 2001 census say about religion relating to secularism?

Answer 16

47% identifies as non-religious were cohabiting compared to 34% Christians, 17% Muslims, 11% Hindus & 10% Sikhs

Question 17

How has rising expectations of marriage changed over time?

Answer 17

Higher expectations mean couples are less willing to tolerate unhappy marriages (linked to the ideology of romantic love)

Question 18

How were expectations of marriage like in the past?

Answer 18

People had little choice in whom they married as marriage was often out of duty to one’s family or for economic reasons

Question 19

SOCIOLOGIST: What did Allen & Crow say about rising expectations of marriage?

Answer 19

“Love, personal commitment & intrinsic satisfaction is now seen as the cornerstones of marriage & the absences of these feelings is justification for ending the relationship”

Question 20

SOCIOLOGIST: What does Fletcher say about rising expectations of marriage?

Answer 20

Has an optimist view -> marriage is still popular as most adults still marry & the number of remarriages has increased which shows society has not rejected marriage as an institution

Question 21

What are criticisms of divorce?

Answer 21

Feminists -> the oppression of women within the family is the main cause of marital conflict which functionalist ignore
Functionalists offer an explanation for the increase in divorce rates but not for why mainly women petition for divorce

Question 22

How has an increase of women’s financial dependence affected divorce?

Answer 22

Women may seek divorce due to improvements in their economic position
Women are more likely to be in paid work now -> 53% in 1971, 67% in 2010
Anti discrimination laws have helped narrow the pay gap (although women generally earn less than men)
Girls’ greater success in education helps them to pursue different careers
Welfare benefits mean women dont have to remain financially dependent on husbands

Question 23

SOCIOLOGIST: What does Allen & Crow say about women’s increased financial dependence?

Answer 23

Marriage is less embedded in the economic system as their are fewer family firms (the family is no longer a unit of production) so spouses aren’t so financially interdependent -> they don’t have to tolerate each in absence of love & they are more willing to seek divorce

Question 24

What are feminist explanations for divorce?

Answer 24

The duel burden has created a new source of conflict in a marriage leading to higher divorce rates
There are big improvements to women’s public position but not private (marriage is still patriarchal as men benefit off of women’s triple shift)

Question 25

SOCIOLOGIST: What does Hochschild say regarding feminist explanations for divorce?

Answer 25

The home compares unfavourably with work as women feel valued at work but not at home (causes unstable marriage), because both partners work it means there is less time & energy for emotional work (increase in divorce rates). Mothers who also have duel burden are more likely to divorce but when the husband is involved with housework the divorce rate is the same as couples with a traditional division of labour

Question 26

SOCIOLOGIST: What does Cooke & Gash say regarding feminist explanations for divorce?

Answer 26

There is no evidence working women are more likely to divorce as working is the norm

Question 27

SOCIOLOGIST: What does Bernard say regarding feminist explanations for divorce?

Answer 27

They observe many women who have a growing dissatisfaction with with their marriage as women are becoming more conscious of oppression & confident about rejecting it

Question 28

SOCIOLOGIST: What do Beck & Giddens say about the modernity & individualism explanations for divorce?

Answer 28

Traditional norms lose hold over individuals so they are free to pursue own self interests (individualisation thesis)

Question 29

What are the some of the modernistic & individualistic explanations for divorce?

Answer 29

Relationships are more fragile as individuals are unwilling to stay in a relationship if there’s no personal fulfilment -> seek a ‘pure relationship’ (a relationship that exists to satisfy others needs) -> increases divorce rates
Increase of divorce rates is normal as it strengthens the belief that marriage exists to solely provide personal fulfilment
Modern society encourages individualism as women are encouraged to work & increased conflict between spouses (marital breakdown)
Some argue modernity encourages people to adopt neoliberal, consumerist identities based on an idea of freedom to follow self interest (increases the likelihood of spouses split)

Question 30

What do the New Right say about divorce rates?

Answer 30

A high divorce rate is undesirable as it undermines marriage & the nuclear family which is vital for social stability -> an increase in divorce rate = increase in a growing underclass

Question 31

What do postmodernists say about divorce rates?

Answer 31

An increase in divorce rates shows individuals have the freedom to end a relationship if its not meeting their needs which creates family diversity

Question 32

What do functionalists say about divorce rates?

Answer 32

An increase in divorce rates is not necessarily a threat to marriage it is just a result of higher expectations today & an increase in the rate of remarriage shows its importance

Question 33

What do interactionalists say about divorce rates?

Answer 33

Divorce means different things for different people so it is difficult to generalise the meaning of divorce

Question 34

What does the personal life perspective say about divorce rates?

Answer 34

Divorce can cause problems however family life can adapt

Question 35

What are some statistics on marriage?

Answer 35

There are fewer people marrying (been the lowest since 1920 175000 1st marriages which is less than 1/2 for 1970)
More remarriages (2012 1/3 of all marriages were remarriages -> leads to ‘serial monogamy’
People marrying later -> (32 -> men & 30 -> women)
Less couples marry in a church (2012 -> 30% married in a church, 60% in 1981)
The average for marriage of same sex couple -> 38 for men, 35.7 for women

Question 36

What are some of the reasons for changing patterns for marriage?

Answer 36

Secularisation
Declining stigma
Changes in women’s position
Fear of divorce
Remarriages
Age of marrying
Church marriages

Question 37

How has secularisation caused changing patterns of marriages?

Answer 37

The church is in favour of marriage but as it’s influence has declined more people feel freer to choose who to marry

Question 38

How has declining stigma caused changing patterns of marriages?

Answer 38

Cohabitation, remaining single & having children outside of marriage is now widely acceptable -> pregnancy doesn’t lead to a ‘shotgun’ wedding

Question 39

How has changes in women’s position caused changing patterns of marriages?

Answer 39

Women are less economically dependent on men so they have greater freedom not to marry & the feminist view might dissuade marrying

Question 40

How has a fear of divorce caused changing patterns of marriages?

Answer 40

As divorce rates increase marriage may be put off as there is an increased likelihood that it’ll end in divorce

Question 41

How has remarriage caused changing patterns of marriages?

Answer 41

An increase in divorces means there is a greater supply of people to remarry

Question 42

How has the age of marrying caused changing patterns of marriages?

Answer 42

It has been rising as young people have been postponing marriage to spend time in education/careers -> leads to an increase of cohabitation

Question 43

How has church weddings caused changing patterns of marriages?

Answer 43

They have been declining due to secularisation & churches refusing to remarry divorcees

Question 44

What is cohabitation?

Answer 44

Unmarried couples in a sexual relationship living together

Question 45

What is a fast growing family type?

Answer 45

Cohabiting couples with children

Question 46

What are some reasons for cohabitation?

Answer 46

Decline in stigma
Secularisation

Question 47

How has a decline in stigma caused an increase in cohabitation?

Answer 47

It is more acceptable especially among young people
Women’s increased career opportunities mean they have less of a need for marriage & financial security

Question 48

How has secularisation caused an increase in cohabitation?

Answer 48

Some couples see cohabitation as a step to marriage

Question 49

SOCIOLOGIST: What does Coast say about secularisation & cohabitation?

Answer 49

75% of cohabitating couples expect to marry each other whereas others see it as a permanent alternative to marriage

Question 50

SOCIOLOGIST: What does Beijin say about secularisation & cohabitation?

Answer 50

Cohabitation is a conscious attempt made by young people to create a more equal relationship than patriarchal traditional marriage

Question 51

SOCIOLOGIST: What does Shelton & John say about secularisation & cohabitation?

Answer 51

Women who cohabitate do less housework

Question 52

SOCIOLOGIST: What does Stonewall say about the amount of same sex relationships in Britain?

Answer 52

5-7% of adults are in same-sex relationships -> people are less likely to hide them now

Question 53

What is the change in attitudes toward same-sex relationships?

Answer 53

Used to be illegal now same-sex couples can marry

Question 54

How has one-person households changed over time?

Answer 54

There has been a big rise in one person households -> 2013 3/10 households has 1 person households tripled since 1961 & by 2035 over 30% of adults will be single (unpartnered or never married)
- many over 65+ & men under 65 are likley to live alone

Question 55

What are some reasons for one person households?

Answer 55

Increase in divorce & separation
Decline in marriages
Older widows
Living apart together (been an increase of the number of adults in significant relationships but not married/cohabiting 1/10) -> may choose to remain in their own home/cant afford to live together/not abnormal