Partnerships

Question 1

types of partnerships

Answer 1

Marriage
Cohabitation
Same-sex marriage
One person households
Living apart together

Question 2

marriage stats

Answer 2

There were 85,770 marriages in total in England and Wales in 2020, a decrease of 61.0% from 219,850 in 2019; the lowest number of marriages on record since 1838.

Question 3

reason for changing patterns of marriage

Answer 3

1. First marriages
2. Changing attitudes to marriage
3. Secularisation
4. Declining Stigma attached to alternatives to marriage
5. Changes in the position of women
6. Fear of Divorce

Question 4

changing attitudes to marriage

Answer 4

There is less pressure to marry and more freedom for individuals to marry and more freedom for individuals to choose the type of relationship they want. There is now a widespread belief that the quality of a couple’s relationship is now more important than its legal status. The norm that everyone ought to get married has greatly weakened.

Question 5

secularisation

Answer 5

All major religious organisations are in favour of marriage, but as their influence declines people feel freer to choose not to marry. For example, according to the 2001 census only 3% of people with no religion were married, as against up to 17% of those with a religion

Question 6

declining stigma attached to alternatives to marriage

Answer 6

Cohabitation, remaining single and having children outside marriage are all widely regarded as acceptable so that pregnancy no longer automatically leads to marriage. In 1989, 70% believed that couples who want children should get married but by 2012 only 42% thought so.

Question 7

changes in the position of women

Answer 7

With better educational and career prospects, many women are now less economically dependent on men. This gives them greater freedom not to marry. The feminist view that marriage is an oppressive patriarchal institution may also dissuade some women from marrying

Question 8

fear of divorce

Answer 8

With the raising divorce rate, some may be put off marrying because they see the increased likelihood of marriage ending in divorce

Question 9

cohabitation

Answer 9

This involves an unmarried couple in a sexual relationship living together. As marriage decreases the number of cohabiting couples increases.

Question 10

cohabitation stats

Answer 10

The proportion of people who live in a couple that are cohabiting has increased from 20.6% in 2011 to 24.3% in 2021.

Question 11

reasons for increased cohabitation

Answer 11

1. Increased cohabitation rates are a result of the decline in the stigma attached to sex outside marriage. In 1989, only 44% of people agreed that premarital sex is not wrong at all but 65% took this view in 2012
2. The young are more likely to accept cohabitation
3. Increased career opportunities for women may mean they have less need for the financial security of marriage and are freer to opt for cohabitation
4. Secularisation, young people with no religion are more likely to cohabit than those with a religion

Question 12

eval of cohabitation

Answer 12

Chester argues that cohabitation is just a step towards getting married. According to Coast 75% of cohabiting couples say that they expect to marry each other

Question 13

what do many see cohabitation as

Answer 13

A trial marriage and intend to marry if it goes well. Some couples see cohabitation as a permanent alternative marriage. Bejin argues that cohabitation among some young people represents a conscious attempt to create a more personally negotiated and equal relationship than conventional patriarchal marriage.

Question 14

same-sex relationships

Answer 14

Stonewall estimates that 5-7% of the adult population today have same-sex relationships, There is evidence of increased social acceptance of same-sex relationships. 2004 civil partnership act - since 2014, same-sex couples have been able to marry

Question 15

chosen families

Answer 15

Weeks argues that increased social acceptance may explain a trend towards same-sex cohabitation and stable relationships that resemble those found among heterosexuals. Weeks sees lesbians and gay men as creating families based on the idea of friendship as kinship - these are chosen, families and they offer the same security and stability as het families. Allan and Crow argue that same-sex partners have nad to negotiate their commitment and responsibilities more than married couples. This may have made same-sex relationships more flexible and less stable than het rlships

Question 16

one-person households stats

Answer 16

1. In 2019, almost 3 in 10 households contained only one person(8.2M ppl)
2. Half of these are over 65 with men being more likely

Question 17

reasons for increase in one person households

Answer 17

The increase in separation and divorce has created more one-person households, esp among men under 65. This is because, following divorce any children are more likely to live with their mother
The decline in the numbers marrying and the trend towards marrying later, also means more people are remaining single. The proportion of adults who are single has risen by half since 1971 - many of these are living alone and are opting for creative singlehood - the deliberate choice to live alone
Some are alone because there are too few partners available in their age groups - these are mainly older widows

Question 18

living apart together

Answer 18

Duncan & Philips (2013)
LAT’s - many couples are together but are not married or cohabiting
Two reasons
Cost of cohabitation and marriage
Single person - £2,249 PCM
Family of four - £3,803 PCM
Average full-time weekly earnings - £585
Average part-time weekly earnings - £197 (increase since 2014)
UK 7th most expensive country in Western Europe
Timing in the relationship/wanting to keep own home