Reasons for decrease in marriage

Question 1

Secularisation

Answer 1

The declining significance of religion in UK society could have contributed to the declining popularity of marriage. For many, marriage is no longer a religious ceremony, and there is no social stigma associated with cohabitation (couples living together without being married) which was once thought of as “living in sin”.

Question 2

Divorce rates

Answer 2

As we shall see, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of divorces. This could have had the effect of putting people off getting married, as so many end in divorce.

Question 3

Expense

Answer 3

Apparently the average wedding in the UK costs over £27,000.

Question 4

The pure relationship. Anthony Giddens (1995)

Answer 4

quest today for the perfect relationship which again could put some off getting married if they’re always imagining a better relationship is around the corner. The role of marriage has changed, certainly, as it is all about the perfect relationship rather than the financial security that particularly women used to use the institution for in earlier periods.

Question 5

Delaying marriage- Women’s careers

Answer 5

While women in particular may have seen marriage as a necessary rite of passage from being dependent on one’s father to having the security of a husband, this is no longer a relevant concept in modern Britain. Today women expect to have careers and independent financial security and can therefore afford to delay marriage and settling down.

Question 6

Delaying marriage- Living longer

Answer 6

People are living longer and therefore later marriages are not shorter marriages (unless they end in divorce).

Question 7

Delaying marriage- Secularisation

Answer 7

Again, because there is less stigma attached to cohabitation, increasingly people may “try before you buy” and marry after a successful period of cohabitation.

Question 8

Evaluation- Secularisation

Answer 8

Only 30% of weddings in the UK today are religious ceremonies. As such, it is not clear that secularisation would have much impact on the total number of weddings as clearly most do not consider it a religious activity in any case.

Question 9

Evaluation- The pure relationship

Answer 9

Giddens’ argument is generally used to explain why couples may be less concerned about divorce and remarriage than previous generations, rather than an explanation for not getting married in the first place.