Marriage cohab and divorce Flashcards
reasons for marriage rate decline
women's economic independence increase in divorce increase in secularisation changing social attitudes and decline in stigma higher expectations of marriage contraception
Reasons for divorce rates increasing
legal changes since 1969 the influence of the feminist movement increasing employment opportunities for women changes in social attitudes increase in sec rising expectations of marriage
who’s likely to get divorced? why? (3 groups)
teenage married couples - marriage tests the maturity of the couple. They may have overly romantic views of the marriage and may be unable to cope with the responsibility of a long term relationship and its constraints
w/c couples - more likely to face financial problems which can lead to arguments and eventually marital breakdown
childless couples-may feel less obliged to stay together in comparison to couples with children who may stay together for the children’s sake.
Feminist theory on divorce, marriage and cohab
Marriage is a social institution based on inequalities with regard to housework and childcare
Divorce allows women who are trapped in violent or empty shell marriages to leave and start again.
Cohabitation allows a woman to ‘test’ the man is right for her before they enter into a marriage
PM theory on divorce, marriage and cohab
today’s families are more about a changing set of rs’s than a fixed set of duties or obligations regulated by legal and social responsibilities. Therefore, divorce is socially acceptable and common.
Marriage is a rs based on agreed wishes and needs of the couple.
Cohabitation is just another family form in which a couple may chose to live.
New Right theory on Divorce, Marriage and Cohab
In favour of marriage, against cohab and divorce.
Divorce should not be so easy to obtain. Couples should try and work on their rs. Gov should make divorce more diff to obtain and encourage marriage. Marital breakdown causes social instability such as high crime rates, alcoholism and drug abuse.
Cohab couples are more likely to split up. This may create a LPF which cant socialise children properly thus leading to social instability.
Marriage between two heterosexuals is the cornerstone of a civilised and ordered society.
