Marriage Trends Flashcards
What is polyandry, example?
One wife with multiple husbands
Example- Nyinba- men spend lost of time away hunting, other husbands can nurture the wife
Positive- always someone at home to support family
What is polygyny, an example?
One husband with multiple wives
Example- Sobtenga- often sisters get married to same man and easier domestic task carrying out
Positives- less domestic work put on one person
What are 2 alternatives to marriages?
Serial monogamy- multiple monogamous relationships in a series
Cohabitation- 2 ppl living together not married
What are some reasons for a rise in serial monogamy?
More presumed in media and normalised in society
Secularisation, religion doesn’t hold people together
Marriage less values so more keen to get married quickly w-out thought
Some facts on rates on cohabitation?
Rate has more than doubled over last 20 years
1938, 4% babies had unmarried parents, now 51%
How does Morgan criticise cohabitation?
Cohabitation is “marriage-lite”, cohabitating couples are less happy + fulfilled than married ones. More likely to be abusive , stressed and therefore to split up
How does Murphy criticise cohabitation?
Children whose parents cohabitate get worse results at school, leave education earlier + higher risk developing serious illness.
How can we criticise Murphy’s research?
If people are not married it could be because they cannot afford it, therefore cannot healthcare and educational support.
Social class as a factor
What do Beaujouan and No Bhrolchain say to support cohabitation?
Cohabitation- normal part of life course, 80% will cohabitate
Cohabitation “screens out” weaker relationships which w-our cohabitation might have immediately progressed to marriage
Practical reason cohabitation- may be separated from previous partner and awaiting divorce
What does Barlow and Duncan say supporting B and NB?
Weddings can be extremely expensive, people will choose not to have a wedding rather than one in financial reach
What is the general marriage rate?
Number of men and women who get married in any given year per 1,000 men and women aged 16 and over who are unmarried
Why could the GMR be in decline?
NR- social policies put ppl off marriage
Ppl value marriage more as institution that did in past
Women don’t need to marry for financial security
What are other trends in marriage?
People marrying later
Social class divide in marriage. Marriage = m/c institution
Ethnic variations in marriage
What are reasons for these other trends?
Feminists- change attitudes toward marriage, no longer seen as patriarchal institution, ppl need to be sure marriage will be fair and equal b4 committing
Decline of religious belief and practice
Increase divorce rates defer ppl from marriage
What else has impacted marriage trends regarding the law?
Intorudction of civil partnership act, 2005 and same sex marriage law, 2014
What are LATs identified by Levin?
Living apart together- ppl in long term committed relationships, define selves as a couple yet do not have common home
Why are LATs growing?
Increasing divorce and seperation means peoooe are less willing to commit to living together.
May be children from previous relationship involved.
Ppl may have difficulty maintaining job in same are as partner
