Marriage/Divorce/Cohabitation/Childbearing

Question 1

What are the trends in divorce?

Answer 1

• increasing
• number of divorces doubled between 1961 and 1969 and doubled again by 1972
• 7/10 petitions come from women

Question 2

What are the reasons for change in divorce rates?

Answer 2

• changes in law (divorce reform act 1969)
• declining stigma and changing attitudes
• secularisation
• rising expectations
• changes in position of women
• modernity + individualisation

Question 3

What are the trends in marriage?

Answer 3

• rates are falling
• fewer people are marrying
• the are more remarriages
• couples are less likely to marry in church
• people are marrying later

Question 4

What are the reasons for change in marriage rates?

Answer 4

• changing attitudes to marriage
• secularisation
• declining stigma attached to alternatives (cohabitation)
• changes in position of women
• fear of divorce

Question 5

What are the trends in cohabitation?

Answer 5

• increasing
• whilst marriage declines cohabitation increases
• over 2 million couples in Britain
• expected to double

Question 6

What are the reasons for change in cohabitation?

Answer 6

• decline in social stigma
• young are more likely to accept cohabitation
• increased career opportunities
• secularisation

Question 7

Trends in : same sex relationships

Answer 7

• 5-7% in same sex couples
• evidence of increased social acceptance
• trend in chosen families - weeks
• 2004 civil partnership gave similar rights

Question 8

Trends in : One person households/LATS

Answer 8

• 1/10 adults are living apart together - may be because there’s a trend towards less formalised relationships
• 3/10 live alone - 40% of these are over 65
• decline in marriage means more people are remaining single

Question 9

Trends in : ethnic differences in family patterns

Answer 9

• Black families : higher proportion of lone parent households - high rate of female headed families
• Asian families : tend to be larger then other ethnic groups - sometimes containing 3 generations
• Ballard -> extended families ties provide support

Question 10

Trends in : Child bearing

Answer 10

• Women choosing other options than motherhood
• 4/10 children born out of wedlock
• women having children later
• declining stigma

Question 11

Trends in : lone parent families

Answer 11

• 22% of all families with children - 90% headed by lone mothers
• risen due to increase in divorce and seperation

Question 12

Trends in : Step families

Answer 12

Over 10% of families with dependent children - divorce and separation responsible for rise