Family Trends- DIVORCE

Question 1

What is the trend and pattern regarding divorce?

Answer 1

INCREASED

-between 1972 and 2002 there was a significant increase

-rate has slightly decreased during last few years but overall there are still many more than there used to be

Question 2

Provide two reasons why divorce rates have increased.

Answer 2

1= rise of individualism

2=changes in the law

Question 3

How has the rise of individualism led to an increase in the number of divorces?

Answer 3

Beck (1995) :
-society placing emphasis on individualism
-now under less pressure to conform to religion and traditional rules due to secularisation
-freedom to achieve individual goals
-more choice about what we want our lifestyle to be -does not necessarily include marriage

Giddens :
-women have much more higher expectations of marriage than men and are willing to leave and get divorce if their expectations are not met
-movement towards individualism=more focused on ourselves rather than opinions of society- hence more willing to get a divorce

Question 4

How has the changes in the law effectively led to the increase of divorces?

Answer 4

in 1971 the DIVORCE REFORM ACT made it legal to divorce based on ‘irreconcilable differences’ rather than only in cases of abuse or adultery