Marriage, Divorce and Family Diversity Sociologists

Question 1

Berthoud

Answer 1

suggests that three quarters of Pakistani and Bangladeshi women are married by the age of 25- compared to half of white women

Question 2

Morgan

Answer 2

argues that marriage involves unique ‘attachments and obligations’ – regulate behavior married men are more likely to be employed and earn more- work harder.

Claimed that cohabiting couples were less happy and fulfilled than married couples- more likely to be abusive, unfaithful, stressed and depressed

Question 3

Murphy

Answer 3

suggests that it could be bad relationships rather than divorce that makes people unhappy + ill

children whose parents live together but aren’t married get worse results at school, leave education earlier and have a higher risk of developing serious illness

Question 4

Wilkinson

Answer 4

female attitudes towards marriage and family life have undergone a radical change or gender quake – females no longer prioritize marriage and children due to educational opportunities and feminization of the economy – particularly middle class women delaying this

Question 5

Smith

Answer 5

argues marriage creates unrealistic expectations about monogamy and faithfulness in a world characterized by sexual freedom. People need different things in their lifetimes which often can only be gained from a new partner

Question 6

Kiernan

Answer 6

difficult to generalize about cohabiting couples – may include people who are about to marry, those who oppose marriage and people testing their relationship strength also the educational and health disadvantages may be because of poverty and are socially disadvantaged

Question 7

Rodges and Prior

Answer 7

children from separated families are more likely to suffer behavioral problems, sexually active younger, smoke, drink and use drugs during adolescence. When a adult – poverty

Question 8

Flori and Buchanan

Answer 8

children that families had separated but father are still involved = more successful in gaining educational qualifications and opportunities in adult life – less likely to get in trouble with police and homeless – more likely to have stable and satisfying relationships themselves. If conflict continued after divorce – children vulnerable to mental health problems

Question 9

Thornes and Collard

Answer 9

women value friendship and gratification more than men – if husbands fail to live up to these expectations – look elsewhere

Question 10

Hart

Answer 10

divorce may be a reaction to the frustration that many working wives may feel if they are responsible for the bulk of housework and childcare

Question 11

Beck and Beck- Gernsheim

Answer 11

rising divorce rates due to a rapidly changing world where traditional rules, rituals and traditions of love, romance and relationships no longer apply
Modern world is characterized by individualization, choice and conflict- which create a battleground for couples – evidenced by divorce rates

Question 12

Ford and Millar

Answer 12

lone parenthood is seen by some as the imperfect family type – reflects selfish choices of adults

‘perverse incentives’ argument is flawed when the quality of life of lone parents is examined – many experience poverty debt and maternal hardship

Question 13

De’Ath and Slater

Answer 13

children may find themselves pulled in two directions, especially if their natural parents continue to be strained. The children may have conflict and tense relationships with step parents or children – further complications if the new couple have children between them – could create envy and conflict amongst existing children