Family Diversity - Divorce Flashcards
What is the trends into divorce?
Since the 1960s has been an increase in the number of divorces
From 1972 divorce divorce
About seven out of every 10 petitions for divorce, come from a woman
The most common reason for a woman to be granted the divorce is unreasonable behaviour of her husband
What are the grounds for divorce in the UK?
Adultery
Unreasonable behaviour
Desertion
Two years separation -if both partners agree
Five year separation -if both partners don’t agree
What changes to divorce law have occurred
1857-men can divorce wives for adultery, women could divorce husband for adultery plus cruelty. Both had to be proven.
1923 -grounds for divorced equalise for men and women
1946 -legal aid available
1969 -divorce not available on grounds of irretrievable breakdown
1984 -divorce now possible after one year of marriage rather than three
What is the secularisation argument for increase divorce?
-There has been a decline in the influence of religion and society
-Therefore the traditional position of churches to divorce carries less weight in society
-People are less likely to be influenced by religious teachings when making decisions
-At the same time church that begin to soften their views on divorce and divorces
Evaluation of the secularisation argument
-Some sociologist challenge with a secular ation is occurring and point the number of first marriages taking place in religious context and the changes made to Church of England to allow divorcees to remarry in church
-There still a demand for religious weddings even among those who have been divorced before
What is the declining stigma argument for increased divorce?
-Juliet Michelle and Jack Goody not important change this is a decline and stigma attached to divorce
-Divorces become more socially acceptable
-This is because it’s much more common meaning it’s been normalised
-Rather than being seen as shameful, it’s regarded simply as a misfortune
Evaluation of the declining stigma argument
-Some sociologists suggest that despite these changing attitudes family patterns tend to be fairly traditional
-Most people still live in a family and most children are brought up by couples
-Therefore limiting the explanatory reach
What is the rising expectations of marriage argument?
-functionalist sociologists argue that higher expectations people place on marriage today or a major cause of rising divorce rates
-Higher expectations makes couples nowadays less willing to tolerate an unhappy marriage
-This is influenced by the ideology of romantic love
-Marriage should be based on mutual love and satisfaction rather than economic reasons
-However despite today’s high divorce rates function is taken optimistic view as the high rate of marriage showing that people are not rejecting marriage as an institution just want to find the best marriage for them
Evaluation of the rising expectations of marriage
-feminist criticise function less for ignoring the impression of women in marriage as a source of high divorce rates
What is the changing position of women argument?
-there have been improvements and economic positions of women
-They are no longer economically dependent on their husband and therefore freer to end an unsatisfactory marriage
-The proportion of women working rose from 53% in 1971 to 67% in 2013
-Changes of law have also narrowed the gap
-Girls greater success in education have helped them achieve better pay jobs
-Availability of welfare benefits means women no longer have to be financially dependent on their husband
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Evaluation of changing position of women
-Feminists would argue that women are now wage earner as well as homemakers and this creates a new source of conflict between husbands and wife and this is what’s leading to divorce
What are the feminist arguments about divorce?
-Women now have a dual burden of paid Work and house work and this leads to conflict between spouse
-Women could even perform a triple shift as they also perform a emotion work
-In the public fair legal changes have made real progress for women
-Hochschild women felt more valued at work then at home and men remained resistant of housework and this was a source of frustration
-bernard argued women are becoming more dissatisfied with patriarchal marriage and women are accepting feminist ideas and are more confident to reject patriarchal marriage
How are the new criticise the feminist view?
It’s a breakdown of natural roles within the family
What’s the modernity and individualisation argument?
-beck and giddens argue that in modern society traditional norms like the duty to stay with the same person lose the hold over individuals
-As a result individuals pursue self interests and relationships become more fragile
-Individual seek ‘ pure relationships’ that solely exist satisfy each partners needs
-Rising divorce rates then normalised divorce and strengthens the idea that marriage exists to provide personal fulfilment
-This is unlikely to tear spouses apart
Evaluation of the modernity and individualisation argument
The connectedness thesis with criticise this view because we are more limited to our choices and this suggests
