FAMILY PATTERNS

Question 1

increase in divorce…

5 causes -

Answer 1

1. changes in law - equalizing the groups for divorce
2. decline in stigma and change in attitudes
3. secularisation - decline influence from religion
4. rising expectation of marriage - Fletcher: there are higher expectations = less willing to tolerate = unhappy
5. women increased financial Independence

Question 2

Stats of divorce:

Answer 2

65% of petitions for divorce come from women but in 1946 only 37% were

Question 3

Changes in … causes divorce

Answer 3

LAW

• cheaper
• widening grounds

Question 4

Decline in …. and changing …..

Answer 4

Decline in STIGMA and change in ATTIUDES

• now socially expected

Question 5

Secular…….

Answer 5

SECULARISATION

- religious institutions are loosing their influence, personal decisions

Question 6

Raising expectations of …..

Answer 6

MARRIAGE

* Fletcher - higher expectations link to more divorce

Question 7

Women’s increase ……. ……

Answer 7

FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE

Don’t need a man - equal pay act, increase girls success in education

Question 8

Beck and Giddens - modernity and individualisation

Answer 8

INDIVIDUALISATION THESIS:
People are less willing to stay with a partner for life if they don’t fulfill their potential & are unhappy

Giddens: pure relationship - a relationship purely to statify each partners needs

SHOWS FREEDOM! (Post modernist perspective)

Question 9

Reasons for change in marriage:

Answer 9

• change in attitudes
• secularisation
• decline in stigma (alternatives to marriage: cohabitation etc
• fear of divorce: some people put off marriages
• change in position of women: more independent

Question 10

Cohabitation stats

Answer 10

• estimate of 69,000 same sex couples

- 2.9 million heterosexual couples in Britain

Question 11

Reasons for the increase in cohabitation

Answer 11

• decline in stigma attached to sex outside of marriage
• the young are more likely to accept cohabitation
• increase independence and carre opportunites for women = less financially dependent on men —> freer
• secularisation

Question 12

A trial marriage

Answer 12

Cohabitation can be seen as a TRAIL MARRIAGE

Question 13

Weeks

Answer 13

Chosen families -

Increased social acceptance = helps explain trends to same sex relationships

Question 14

Stats about child bearing

Answer 14

47% of all children now born outside of marriage: over twice than 1986

Question 15

Stats about lone parents families

Answer 15

• 22% are lone parent in the uk

- 90% are headed by lone mothers

Question 16

Murray - lone parent families

Answer 16

Sees the growth in lone parent families = because there’s over-generous welfare making it easier

Question 17

How does the NR criticise the Murray

Answer 17

Welfare is NOT over-generous:

• lack Afforable childcare
• inadequate welfare benefits
• most lone parents are women = earn less than men

Question 18

Mirza - ethnic differences in family patterns

Answer 18

Higher rate of Lone parent families not because of disorganisation but rather places high value on independence in women in the family

Question 19

Why are Asian families more likely to be extended

Answer 19

Because families = tradition, Asian culture

Question 20

What is a bean pole family?

Answer 20

Type of extended family, ‘long and thin’

Question 21

What is an extended family?

Answer 21

Extends beyond the nuclear: uncle, aunts , grandparents…