Topic 2 - Changing Family Patterns Flashcards
Name a major cause for changes in family patterns.
Divorce as most remarriage involved divorce and divorce creates lone parents and one person households
List all 7 reasons for an increase in divorce rates.
- Changes in law
- Declining stigma
- Secularisation
- Rising expectation of marriage
- Women’s increased financial independence
- Feminism
- Modernity and intevidualism
Name 3 ways in which changes in the law affect divorce.
1923, the grounds of divorce were equalised for men and women, causing an increase in female divorce petitions
1949 introduced legal aid for divorce, making it considerably cheaper. (Accessible for wc)
1971, the grounds for divorce were widened rates of divorce doubled overnight
Explain how a decline in the stigma of divorce has an effect.
In the past, divorce was heavily stigmatised, especially by the church, but now divorce is accepted in society and often normalised, leading to more people being comfortable with divorce.
Explain how secularisation affects the divorce rate.
Secularisation means a decline in the influence religion has on society.
As a result of Secularisation, the main opponent of divorce the Church has no longer got a presence of society.
Explain how rising expectations of love affect divorce rates.
Couples have higher expectations of love from media and are less tolerant of flaws in their marriage. They may feel divorce will lead them to their ‘true love’.
Explain how changes in the position of women in society influence divorce rates.
Women are more free to choose if they want a divorce as they are financially independent and girls now achieve greater success in education.
Describe the feminist explanation for an increased divorce rate.
They explain that women are freeing themselves from marriage as it still remains patriarchal as family and relationships have improved slower than work and education.
