topic 2 - family diversity DIVORCE Flashcards
how has changes in law made divorce easier
1857 - matrimonial causes act, men could divorce unfaithful wives and women could too, had to prove cruelty
1923 - divorce equalised for men and women
1949 - legal aid introduced provide loans for those who can’t afford legal costs
1969 - divorce reform act - couples allowed divorce
1984 - legislation reduced amount of time people people need to be married 3yrs to 1
1996 - family law act - encourages people to seek mediation
2007 - appeal court ruling
2004 - marriage same sex marriages legalised
how does decline in stigma play a role In increasing divorce rates?
MITCHELL AND GOODY - 1960s been rapid decline in stigma attached to divorce
stigma declines and divorce becomes more socially acceptable, couples more willing to resort divorce as a means of solving marital problems
divorce normalised reduces stigma attached to it
rather seen as shameful regarded as a misfortune
why does secularisation increase divorce rates?
sec - decline in influence of religion
result of secularisation, the traditional opposition of churches
divorce carries less weight in society and people are less likely to be influenced by religious teachings when making decisions regarding divorce
churches softening views on divorce and divorcees
churches dear losing credibility with public and own members
why has riding marriages of expectations led to an increase in divorce
fletcher argue higher expectations of marriage, cause of increasing divorce
higher expectations, make couple less willing to be in an unhappy marriage
influenced by ideology of romantic love, belief marriage should be based on mutual love rather than economic reasons
past - lower expectations people less likely to feel dissatisfied by absence of romance
marriage - views as relationship where individ seek fulfilment encouraging couples to seek divorce
how has CPOW led to a rise in increase divorce rates?
been improvements of women economic position making them less financially independent on their husband, freer to end an unsatisfactory marriage rather than tolerate conflict
women working risen 1971 - 53% 2013 - 67%
changes in law narrowed way - equal pay act
girls greater success in education helped them achieve better jobs
availability of welfare benefits women no longer financially independent on husbands
what are some feminists argument around divorce
dual burden?
triple shift?
feminists argue married women have dual burden - paid work and housework leads to conflicts leads to divorce
women preform ‘triple shift’ preforming emotion work, managing feeling of family members
public sphere of work, legal changes meant real progress for women, but change = slow – marriage remain patriarchal
feminist arguments
what does hoschild argue?
found women felt more valued at work than at home, men remained resistant to housework was a source of frustration
feminist arguments
what does single rushton argue
sigle - Ruston found divorce more likely when mothers stayed at home more traditional division of labour
or when husband of a working wife has an active role in housework
Feminists arguments
what does Bernard argue
women dissatisfied with patriarchal marriage, says fact women now more likely to petition for divorce shows women are more accepting towards divorce, accepting of feminist ideas more confident to reject patriarchal marriage
what are alternatives to divorce (theres 3)
desertion - just leave lol
legal separation - agree to separate 2 years , if 1 partner agrees 5 yrs
empty shell marriage - no love marriage
theories of divorce -
new rights meaning of divorce rates?
high divorce rates as undesirable undermines traditional nuclear family
divorce creates underclass of welfare dependent lone mothers and leaves boys without adult role model they need
theories of divorce
do feminists agree with new right
no they disagree and see the high divorce rates as desirable shows women are brewing from oppression of patriarchal nuclear family.
theories of divorce
what do postmodernists and individualisation thesis see high divorce rates as
see a high divorce rate as giving individuals the freedom to choose and end a relationship when it no longer meets their needs see it as a cause of greater family diversity
what do functionalists argue about high divorce rates?
doesn’t necessarily prove that marriage as a social institution is under threat, simply result of peoples higher expectations of marriage today
high rate of re - marriage demonstrates peoples continuing commitment to the idea of marriage
