Topic 2- families and households Flashcards
How are changes in laws increasing divorce?
Equalise in the grounds of divorce
Making divorce cheaper – there is legal aid for divorce cases under lowered cost for divorce. So divorce is more accessible for working classes.
Widening the grounds for divorce– divorce is easier to obtain.
How has the decline in stigma of divorce affected divorce rate?
In the past divorce was very stigmatised since the 1960s, according to Mitchell and goody there has been a significant decrease in the stigma
As he is more accepted in society, couples are more likely to turn to it as a way of resolving the issues.
How has secularisation affected divorce rate?
Increasing secular society has made the main opponent of divorce which was religion less influential. Also the church has suffered the views on divorce. This has led to a less guilty conscious when divorcing.
How has the rising expectation of love affected divorce rate?
This is the link to the ideology of romantic love, and I believe there is a Mr and Mrs right, if love dies, there is no need to remain in the relationship.
Fletcher- argues it is a major cause of the increase in divorce.
Alan and Crow argued that people no longer see marriage as a binding contract.
How has the changing position of women affected divorce rate?
Women’s economic position has improved, meaning they no longer have to rely on men. This allows them to be more free to choose to divorce if their marriage is unsatisfactory.
What is the feminist explanation to divorce rates increasing?
Rushton argues that women suffer a dual burden of paid work and domestic labour. This has caused conflict between husbands and wives leading to higher divorce rate marriages also still patriarchal and Hochschild argues that the home life for women is unfavourable.
How does modernity and individualisation affect the divorce rate?
Beck and giddens argue that modern society, unless interested in what society expects and more interesting in pursuing their own self interests. This makes relationships fragile as a personal fulfilment isn’t being met. Individuals are less likely to stay in a relationship.
What perspectives believe high divorce rates are good?
Feminists – believe women of breaking free from patriarchal oppression
Individualisation thesis – high divorce rates, show individuals having more freedom
What perspective believe high divorce rates are bad?
The new right- see divorce rates as undesirable as it undermined marriage on the traditional nuclear family.
Functionalists – believe divorce rates aren’t good due to the breaking of nuclear families affecting how society is run negatively. However, argue the high rate of remarriages show people are still committed to the idea of marriage.
Explain marriages
Fewer people are marrying and more people are remarrying sometimes resulting in ‘serial monogamy’. This is for a number of reasons such as:
1) There is less pressure to marry from society, decrease in stigma in sex before marriage, having kids, staying single
2) less pressure from the church. There is less stigma on remaining single.
3)women’s position has given more freedom, not to marry.
4)People are also put off marriage due to high divorce rates.
Remarriages increasing due to an increase in divorce, marriage age is increasing due to young people concentrating on careers
Explain cohabitation
Cohabitation involves unmarried couples in a sexual relationship living together. The number of cohabiting households has increased. They were the fastest growing family type in 2013. This is due to the decline in stigma attached to sex before marriage, young people are more accepting of cohabition, women’s opportunities has made less need for financial security of marriage.
However, cohabitation is seen as a step into getting married (chester) or a trial marriage, a conscious attempt to create a more equal relationship (bejin)
Explain, same-sex relationships
There is more social acceptance of same-sex relationships, there’s more tolerance of homosexuality, civil right partnership act gives same-sex couples similar legal rights to married couples. same-sex relationships share commitments and responsibilities, more than married couples.
Allan/ crow- They are more flexible.
Weeks- they are starting to resemble heterosexual families
Explain, one-person households.
This is due to an increase in separation and divorce, creating more one-person households, especially in men under 65 following the divorce children are more likely to live with their mother. Due to marrying later, people are single for longer. There is also people opting for creative singlehood, which is a deliberate choice to live alone.
Explain living apart together
Couples who are in significant relationships but aren’t married or cohabitating.
Duncan and Phillips- 1/10 adults are in LATs, lats are through choice and constraint ( e.g not being able to afford it). It is no longer abnormal.
Explain lone parent families
This is due to an increase in divorce and separation. This is also due to sex before marriage, allowing women to have children who are not married . Loan Parent families are normally led by mothers as they often seek custody, more suited to the nurturing role and more willing to give up their working role.
Renvoize- professional women could take care of children without fathers
Cashmore- w/c women choose to live off benefits due to experiencing abuse.
The new right- murray- dont like lpf as they are problematic and rely in the welfare state. They is an increase due to over generous welfare state creating a perverse incentive where negative behaviour is rewarded creating a dependency culture.
