Families Topic 2 - Changing Family Patterns Flashcards
What is a major cause of changing family patterns and greater family diversity?
Divorce
Divorce creates lone-parent and one-person households
What percentage of all marriages end in divorce?
40%
This statistic reflects the trend observed up to 2012
By how much did the number of divorces in the UK increase between 1961 and 1969?
Doubled
The trend of rising divorces continued until it peaked in 1993
What was the most common reason for divorce according to the statistics?
‘Unreasonable behaviour’
This accounted for 48% of women’s petitions and 35% of men’s
What percentage of divorce petitions come from women as of the latest statistics?
63%
This is a significant increase from 37% in 1946
What factors contribute to a higher likelihood of divorce?
- Marrying young
- Having a child before marriage
- Cohabiting before marriage
- One or both partners having been married before
True or False: Divorce rates are highest among newer generations.
False
Divorce rates rise over time for every generation but have decreased for those married after 2005
List three key changes in the law that have made divorce more obtainable.
- 1923: Equalising the grounds of divorce
- 1949: Making divorce cheaper
- 1971: Widening the grounds for divorce
What is ‘stigma’ in the context of divorce?
The negative label, social disapproval, or shame attached to a person, action, or relationship
How has secularisation affected divorce rates?
Reduced the influence of religious teachings, making divorce more accepted
What do Functionalists argue about rising expectations of marriage?
High expectations lead couples to be less willing to tolerate unhappiness
This is linked to the ideology of romantic love
What has improved women’s economic position contributed to regarding divorce?
Women are freer to choose to divorce if their marriage is unsatisfactory
What do Feminists argue is a source of conflict that leads to higher divorce rates?
The dual burden of paid work and domestic labor on women
What do Beck and Giddens argue about modern relationships?
Traditional norms lose influence, leading to fragile relationships focused on personal fulfillment
What is ‘serial monogamy’?
A pattern of marriage, divorce, and remarriage
This is indicated by the rise in re-marriages
What are the main reasons for the increase in cohabitation?
- Decline in stigma attached to sex before marriage
- Young people’s acceptance of cohabitation
- Increased career opportunities for women
- Secularisation
What is the trend regarding births outside of marriage as of 2021?
More babies were born outside of marriage than within for the first time (51%)
What percentage of families in the UK are lone parent families as of 2022?
15%
84% of these are headed by lone mothers
What does the term ‘creative singlehood’ refer to?
The deliberate choice to live alone
What has been a significant change in the demographic of one-person households?
The rise of pensioner one-person households, more than doubling since 1961
What is the average age for women having children as of 2021?
31
This age has risen by 5 years since 1974
What is the impact of divorce on children’s living arrangements?
Children are more likely to live with their mother after a divorce (88%)
True or False: Many lone parent families are formed by choice.
True
Some women prefer to raise children without a partner
What percentage of families with dependent children in Britain are often called ‘reconstituted families’?
10%
Reconstituted families may include children from both partners’ previous relationships.
What did Renvoize (1985) find about professional women and lone parent families?
They are able to support their child without the father’s involvement.
According to Cashmore (1985), why do some working-class women choose to live on benefits without a partner?
They have experienced abuse.
What does New Right thinker Charles Murray (1984) see as problematic about lone parent families?
They rely on the welfare state and produce delinquent boys who lack a male role model.
What does Murray argue is a consequence of the over generous welfare state?
The growth of lone parent families.
Fill in the blank: Murray argues that the welfare state creates a _______ incentive.
perverse
What are some reasons stepfamilies might face greater risks?
- Greater risk of poverty
- Supporting other children
According to Allan & Crow (2001), what problem do stepfamilies often face?
Divided loyalty with the non-resident parent.
What is the perspective of McCarthy et al (2003) on stepfamilies?
There is diversity in stepfamilies, and they should not be generalized.
What has contributed to changing family patterns in Britain since the 1950s?
Significant immigration.
What percentage of Black African and Black Caribbean families were lone parent households in 2011?
24%
What is the comparative percentage of lone parent households among Asian families?
9%
According to Mirza (1997), what does the high rate of lone parent female-headed families reflect?
The independence placed on black women.
What does Reynolds (2010) say about statistics on lone parent families?
They can be misleading, as many are stable, supportive non-cohabiting relationships (LATs).
Fill in the blank: Bangladeshi, Pakistani, and Indian households tend to be _______ than those of other ethnic groups.
bigger
What type of family structure is prevalent in Asian cultures?
Extended family
What role did the extended family play for migrants in the 1950s and 1960s according to Ballard (1982)?
Housing, financial, and childcare support.
According to Charles (2008), how prevalent is the three-generation family living under one roof today?
All but extinct.
What does Willmott (1988) argue about the extended family today?
It exists as a ‘dispersed extended family’ with frequent contact.
What is a beanpole family as described by Brannen (2003)?
Extended vertically through three or more generations but not horizontally.
What demographic changes have contributed to the rise of beanpole families?
- Increased life expectancy
- Smaller family sizes
What did Finch & Mason (1993) find about financial help among extended families?
Over 90% had given or received financial help.
According to Cheal (2002), what gender patterns exist in terms of obligation for personal care?
Daughters or daughters-in-law are preferred for elderly women.
What influences the level of responsibility a daughter may take in a family?
The history of the relationship.
