Marriage and Divorce

Question 1

What was the divorce reform act and when was it?

Answer 1

1969:passed
1971:came into affect

THe idea of a matrimonial offence or ‘guilty party’ was abolished, Making the irretrieable breakdown (either or both spouses are no longer willing or able to live with eachother) the sole ground for divorce. established by providing unreasonable behavior, adultery, desterion or separation.

Divorce available after two years agreed separation or five years if only one spouse wants divorce.

made divorce easier to obtain and produced a doubling of divorce rate almost overnight.

Question 2

What was the divorce, disolution and separation act when was it?

Question 3

How does Changes in law increase/decrease divorce rate?

+criticism of this

Answer 3

• Equalising grounds of divorce between sexes
• Widening grounds of divorce
• Making divorce cheaper
  1969 divorce reform act abolished the idea of matrimonial offence or guilty party and made irretrievable breakdown of marraige the sole ground for divorce.
• Criticism: Although change in law gives more freedom to divorce easily it does not mean that they should take advantage of this freedom. Changes in attitudes and values affect laws and may reduce stigma (more impactful then laws)

Question 4

How does Declining stigma and changing attitudes increase/decrease divorce rate?

+criticism of this

Answer 4

• Stigma-negative label, social disapproval or shame attatched to a person, action or relationship. e.g churches often condemn divorce as it breaks marital vows ‘till death do us part’ often refuse to conduct services involving divorce.
• AS stigma declines and divorce becomes more socially acceptable couples become more willing to resort to divorce as a means of solving marital problems.
• The fact that divorce is more common normalises it an reduces stigma attatched to it.
• Juliet Mitchell and Jack Goody not taht an important change since the 1960s has been rapid declinein stigma

Criticism:Culture doesn’t change overnight, yet statistics show a sharp increase of divorce in 1971 which suggests that law has a more significant and immediate impact

Question 5

How does Secularisation increase/decrease divorce rate?

+criticism of this

Answer 5

• Secularisation refers to the decline in the influnce of religion in society.
• Many sociologists argue that religious institutions are loosing their influence and society is becoming more secular.
• Church attendance rates continue to decline
• As a result traditional religious opposition to divorce carries less weight in society and individuals are less likely to be influenced by religious teachings when deciding personal matters.
• Churches have also soften their views on divorce possibly due to fear of losing credibility.

Criticism:Religion still plays an important part in communities. As immigration has increased in Britain in the past 60 years a wide range of communities and religious perspectives have been brought to the UK. Hindus sikhs and muslims all tend to have lower rates for divorce and in such divorce rate has not increased. Long process and doesnt explain dramatic rise in rate