Marriage, Divorce and Family Diversity: Marriage

Question 1

Men and women are getting married older. What was the 2019 average age for men and women?

Answer 1

• 34.3 years for men.
• 32.3 years for women.

Question 2

How is this a change?

Answer 2

This is a slight increase from 2018 for both men and women and this continues the trend of the overall rise in average age at marriage since the early 1970s.

Question 3

What was the average age for same sex couples in 2019?

Answer 3

(slightly higher)
- 38.1 years for men.
- 33.8 years for women.

Question 4

What change of % has there been over the last 2 decades?

Answer 4

Over the last 2 decades, there’s been an 8.5% increase in average age for men and a 9.9% increase for women since 1999 (31.6 years for men and 29.4 years for women).

Question 5

What 4 social factors explain changing patterns of marriage?

Answer 5

1. Economic Factors.
2. Changing Gender Roles.
3. Postmodernism - more Individual Freedom / Changing Values / Decline of Tradition.
4. The New Right - Moral Decline.
   (marriage divorce grid).

Question 6

What is the ‘usual’ type of marriage in the UK?

Answer 6

• In the UK, heterosexual marriage is generally a matter of chance = people normally follow cultural expectations.
• Relationships will result in the emotional and physical compatibility from which feelings of love and proposal marriage can emerge.

Question 7

On the other hand, what other marriages can occur in the UK?

Answer 7

• Not all subcultures in the UK invest in love marriage = many Asian people: Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs, as well as Orthodox Jews, still practice arranged marriage.
• Usually involves mutual discussion and a proposed match → no force.
• Needs consent from both the bride and the groom.

Question 8

What did Robert Epstein (2011) explore in arranged marriages?

Answer 8

Robert Epstein (2011) - explored the strength of arranged marriages by interviewing more than 100 Indian, Pakistani and Orthodox Jewish couples and compared the results against 30 years of research into love marriages.

Question 9

What did Epstein find?

Answer 9

• His research concluded that arranged marriages tend to grow more stable as time goes on, while love marriages are more likely to deteriorate.
• He found those in arranged marriages tended to feel more in love the longer they spent together, while those in regular marriages felt less love overtime.

Question 10

What does Epstein claim?

Answer 10

• Epstein claims arranged marriages are generally more successful than love marriages because those in arranged marriages carefully check for compatibility in terms of beliefs, values, interests and goals.
• He claims the couple have more confidence in one another and are more likely to commit to one another for life.
• They positively attempt to work out any difficulties that might appear in the marriage.
• Extended kin are well-placed to advise and guide.

Question 11

In contrast, what does Epstein argue?

Answer 11

• Epstein argues that those who marry for love are blinded by passion and lust, and fail to think seriously about issues of compatibility.
• When love marriages hit difficulties, they are less likely to consult extended kin for advice and are more likely to believe that relationship problems mean their romantic dreams and marriage have come to an end.

Question 12

Why was a Forced Marriage Unit (FMU) set up?

Answer 12

Forced marriages continue to exist in the UK, to the extent that the gov. set up a Forced Marriage Unit (FMU) in 2005. Forced marriage is defined to the unit as “a marriage conducted without the valid consent of both parties where duress (emotional pressure in addition to physical abuse) is a factor.

Question 13

What are the UK forced marriage statistics for 2013?

Answer 13

UK forced marriage statistics for 2013: 1,302. Although, the FMU estimates there were actually 8,000 forced marriages a year in the UK.

Question 14

Why is it hard to assess the real degree of forced marriages?

Answer 14

• Victims are reluctant to come forward because they are often unwilling to report their parents to the authorities.
• They may be reluctant to bring shame upon themselves or their families by not fulfilling their ‘family duty’ and they may be fearful of the consequences - failure to obey may result in ‘honour crimes’ such as abduction, acid attacks, mutilation and even murder. For example, 2,823 honour-based incidents were reported to the police in 2010.

Question 15

What was the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013?

Answer 15

Legalised marriage for same-sex couples in England and Wales, either in a civil ceremony or religious premises if the religious organisation is in agreement.

Question 16

What did arguements in favour of the act claim?

Answer 16

• The arguments in favour for the Act claimed that the system previously in place for gay couples who wanted to legally validate their relationships - civil partnerships - did not have the same status and confer the same legal rights as heterosexual marriage.
• However, the most significant argument in favour for same-sex marriage was a civil rights or equal opportunities one.
• It was argued it isn’t right that a couple who love one another and want to publicly confirm and formalise that love should be denied the right to marry.

Question 17

Despite the Act becoming law, what strong objections have been raised to same-sex marriages?

Answer 17

There were religious objections, which have resulted in 2 legal definitions of marriage, those marriages which are recognised by the state and those recognised by the Church of England, and other religious groups which exclude same-sex marriage.

Question 18

Why did Morgan object to same-sex marriage?

Answer 18

• Morgan objects to same-sex marriage because she argues it indicates a rejection of Christian values and consciousness, and a general moral decline.
• She argues that an alternative secular and family diversity has come to culturally dominate western western societies.
• She claims that this ideology, which is encouraged by gov. social policy, seeks to undermine the moral authority of religious institutions and the traditional nuclear families and to stigmate those who object to same-sex marriage as narrow-minded and prejudiced bigots.