part 2 content

Question 1

what are reasons for changes in patterns of marriage?

Answer 1

1. changing attitudes
   - quality of a relationship is more important, so people wait to get married
   - for example, the average age to get married is 33 for women and 35 for men
2. secularisation
   - marriage is traditionally a religious ceremony but people are less religious
   - for example, 17% of weddings are religious
3. changes in position of women
   - law changes such as the equal pay act, sex discrimination act and the introduction of contraception has made it easier for women to be independent

Question 2

what are reasons for changes in patterns of childbearing?

Answer 2

1. changing position of women
   - more women working
2. children are no longer used as part of the workforce, so are now economic liabilities
3. change in attitudes
   - less stigma towards people having less children

Question 3

what are reasons for the rise in the divorce rate?

Answer 3

1. changing social attitudes
   - divorce was often seen as a sign of misfortune
2. Rising expectations of marriage
   - higher expectations placed on marriage today
3. Individualisation thesis
   - people are free to pursue individual interests
4. women’s increased financial independence
   - women are more likely to be in paid work as they have better jobs than previous generations

Question 4

what are reasons for an increase in cohabitation?

Answer 4

1. reducing risk
   - risk of fear of divorce
2. female independence
   - women are working so they dont need to rely on a man financially via marriage
3. generational difference
   - younger generations are more accepting to cohabitation
4. secularisation
   - marriage was typically a religious union, so religion is declining and cohabitation is increasing

Question 5

what are the reasons for the growth in lone parent families?

Answer 5

1. changes in law
   - for example, Equal Pay Act or Divorce, Separation and Dissolution Act
2. change in attitudes
   - less stigma and more media representation of lone parent families
3. single by choice
   - more women choose to be single rather than have a husband
4. welfare state
   - it provides benefits and council housing so the w/c can rely on the state for support

Question 6

what do postmodernists say about the family diversity?

Answer 6

1. there is diversity and fragmentation
   - people can pick and mix identity so arent bound by traditional structures
2. rapid social change
   - there has been an increase in technology and the media