MARRIAGE

Question 1

Define marriage?

Answer 1

Marriage is a universal institution practiced by most societies.

Question 2

What are the 4 important changes in patterns of marriage?

What are the reasons for decline in (first) marriages? (6)

Answer 2

1)
- (first) marriage rates declining.
- more remarriages
- marrying later in life increasing
- less likely to marry in church

2)
- changing attitudes
- secularisation
- decline in stigma to marriage alternatives
- change in position of women
- fear of divorce
- pragmatic reasons

Question 3

Define people’s changing attitude to marriage? (5)

Answer 3

• less social pressure to marriage
• greater freedom to chose relationship type
• quality of a relationship is more important than legal status
• less carefree about marriage
• marriage is one of the most important decisions in life. they focus on finding their ‘pure relationships’ (Giddens)

Question 4

Define the ‘changes in the position of women’ in terms of decline in marriage? (3)

Answer 4

Historically women’s financial status was linked to their husband.

• women are less dependant on men as they have financial independence through careers.
• less financial incentive to get married.
• ‘feminisation of the economy’

Question 5

Describe trend 2 ‘more remarriages’? why? (3)

Describe trend 3 ‘people marry later’? why? (2)

Describe trend 4 ‘couples less likely to marry in church’? why? (3)

Answer 5

1) - remarriages gives chance to find the perfect partner.
- men need the expressive role - need to be looked after
- steady trend in remarriages.

2) - less stigma towards cohabitation
- more career focused

3) - more homosexual marriages
- more remarriages
- secularisation

Question 6

What are the feminists opinion on the decline of marriage?

Post modernist opinion?

New right opinion? (2)

Answer 6

1) regards marriage as patriarchal (not getting married benefits women).

2) regards the patterns as indicators of choice + identity.

3) alarmed by the changing patterns of marriage
- believes marriage regulates behaviour + contributes to social stability.
- believe without marriage people will become immortal.

Question 7

How does ethnic issues affect marriage? (3)

Answer 7

• Pakistani / Bangladeshi women are more likely to be married by 25 (high fertility).
• British African Carribeans less likely to marry outside their religious / ethnic groups.
• less multi-racial marriages.

Question 8

What is an arranged marriage?

What is a forced marriage?

How do they differ?

Answer 8

1) Arranged marriages involve mutual discussion about a proposed match (bride + groom consents)

2) Forced marriage is a marriage conducted without the valid consent of both the bride and groom where emotional + physical pressure is put on one or both individuals.

3) arranged is consensual. forced is not.