Topic 5 - Changing family patterns Flashcards
__% of marriages end in divorce (Changing family patterns)
40%
What are the reasons for increase in divorce over past 60 years? [5]
1) Legal changes - divorce has become easier to access - Divorce Reform Act 1969, no fault divorce law 2022
2) Less stigma - divorce has become more common and widely accepted.
3) Secularisation - decline in religious influence on society.
4) Higher expectations of marriage - the rising expectation of marriage based upon unrealistic scenarios shown in movies has led to the dissatisfaction amongst many couples (Fletcher).
5) Women’s financial independence - more women are now in paid employment
Fletcher - Marriage expectations
The rising expectation of marriage through movies -> Dissatisfaction amongst many couples
Reasons for decreasing marriage rates [5]
- Changing attitudes - less pressure to marry
- Alternatives to marriage (such as cohabitation) are less stigmatised
- Women’s economic independence
- Impact of feminism - some women now see marriage as a patriarchal institution
- Rising divorce rates - this may put women off marrying
What are other trends in marriage? [3]
- Rise in serial monogamy - many people re-marry
- Later marriages - the young spend longer in education and cohabit before marrying
- Fewer church weddings - due to secularisation
Trends in Partnerships [3]
More people are living together without being married (secularisation, stigma and cost)
Increase in same-sex partnerships (secularisation and stigma)
More people living alone (life expectancy and stigma)
Trends in Childbearing [3]
More children are born outside marriage Women are having children later Radical feminists are still unhappy with women being the main caregivers
Individualization Thesis [2]
Traditional family roles have lost hold over people
Giddens - confluent love means individuals are satisfying their own needs rather than family.
