Family Trends - Singlehoods

Question 1

What is the trend and pattern regarding singlehoods?

Answer 1

INCREASED
over 30% of families are now one-person households

Question 2

Provide two reasons why singlehoods have increased.

Answer 2

1= change in women’s position

2=rise of individualism

Question 3

How has the change in women’s position led to an increase in singlehood?

Answer 3

Sue Sharpe (1991):
-Women’s priorities had changed from marriage and children being their top priority to now valuing career equally
-therefore less interested in marriage and are more likely to live on their own as it is more flexible which fits in with the demands of their career

Wilkinson (1994):
-argues that there has been a ‘genderquake’ znd young females are prioritising their career over getting married
Feminist argue that this is due to pressure from the workplace to have children later and have less children as getting married and having children can prevent promotion and success at work

Question 4

How has the rise of individualism lead to an increase in singlehood?

Answer 4

Postmodernists:
-argue that we now live in a materialistic and consumer based society and this has affected our lifestyles
-many people now want to spend their money on luxary goods, holidays, expendive homes etc as opposed to weddings and children

Williams (2006)
-found that the cost of childcare was around 1/4 of an average family’s income
-it is said that the average family spends £200,000 in a child from birth to 18
-this has led to people not wanting children as it becomes a significant financial strain

Klineberg
Argued that the revolution in communication allows people to live alone and contact their family