Family Diversity- Marriage

Question 1

How has secularisation explained changes in marriage patterns?

Answer 1

-Decline in influence means people no longer feel the need to get married for religious reasons
-People are freer to choose what type of relationship they enter into
-In 2001 census- 3% of young people with no marriage as against 17% of those with religion

-Still demand for religious weddings- n. of first marriages and CofE allowing divorcees to remarry

Question 2

How has the decline in stigma to alternatives explained changes in marriage patterns?l

Answer 2

-Cohabitation is now acceptable
-In 1989, 70% believed couples who want children should get married- in 2012, only 42% thought so

-Most people who cohabit do tend to get married, just average age of getting married has risen

Question 3

How has CPOW explained changes in marriage patterns?

Answer 3

-Many women are now financially independent- due to better education and career prospects
-Gives freedom not to marry
-Impact of feminist view that marriage is an oppressive patriarchal institution may be dissuaded from it
-McRobbie and Sue Sharpe
-CPOW doesn’t mean they don’t get married, just put it off

Question 4

How has the fear of divorce explained changes in marriage patterns?

Answer 4

-Led to some rejecting marriage- experiencing someone going through it etc..
-Fear due to financial costs, length of legal process, and emotional difficulties involved
-40% of marriages end in divorce

-Stats show most people who go through a divorce end up re-married