Trends In Divorce

Question 1

What is the trend for divorce ?

Answer 1

• Divorce is increased
• 2018 gov statics , 1 in 3 marriages in England and Wales end in divorce

Question 2

What are the reasons for the trends in divorce ?

Answer 2

1. Changing social attitudes
2. Changes in law
3. Popularity in postmodernism ideas
4. Changing role of women

Question 3

What are the points for changing social attitudes ?

Answer 3

• less stigma attached to divorce
• secularisation
• greater acceptance of serial monogamy

Question 4

According to less stigma attached to divorce when was there strong stigma attached to divorce ?

Answer 4

Up until the 1960s but more recently to be more normal and acceptable

Question 5

British Social Attitudes Survey, what % agreed and disagreed with the statement ‘divorce can be a positive step towards a new life’ for less stigma attached to divorce

Answer 5

63% agreed and 7 % disagreed

Question 6

What does secularisation say for reason 1: changing social attitudes

Answer 6

• Colin Gibson Britian has gone through a process of secularisation
• religious values have weakened
• marriage less sacred and spiritual union but commitment easily abandoned

Question 7

What does greater acceptance of serial monogamy say ?

Answer 7

• People have one monogamous relationship at a time but multiple partners throughout due to death, divorce or choice
• which has become social norm e.g apps like tinder, truematch allow this

Question 8

What are the points for reason 2:changes in law ?

Answer 8

• 1857 matrimonial cause act
• divorce reform act of 1969
• divorce, dissolution and seperation act (2020)

Question 9

What is the 1857 matrimonial cause Act ?

Answer 9

More acceptable cases for divorce
E.g adultery, desertion and cruelty were also considered reasonable grounds for divorce but has to prove guilt or fault of other
- only available to wealthy people as involved judges and barrister

Question 10

What year was the matrimonial cause act ?

Answer 10

1857

Question 11

What is the divorce reform act of 1969 ?

Answer 11

Could divorce on grounds of irretrievable (permanent) breakdown once completed legal formality of 2 years agreed separation

Question 12

What did the divorce reform act of 1969 allow ?

Answer 12

More people to escape unhappy marriage by divorce

Question 13

What year was the divorce reform act ?

Answer 13

1969

Question 14

What is the divorce, dissolution and seperation act of 2020 and what is it know as ?

Answer 14

No longer need to be fault of a spouse to prove marriage has reached end. Known as no fault divorce

Question 15

Why is divorce, dissolution and seperation act better?

Answer 15

Allows couples to end relationship on peace rather than bitterness but if no reason is given for divorce partners can reflect

Question 16

What is the point for popularity of postmodernism ?

Answer 16

• Beck: individualisation
• Beck : risk society
• Giddens : confluent love
• Giddens : reflexivity

Question 17

What are the points of reason 3: changing role of women ?

Answer 17

• sue sharpe : changing women’s aspirations
• increase choice for women: Jennifer Sommervile
• equality act and sex discrimination act

Question 18

What does Sue sharpe change of aspiration say ?

Answer 18

Women in the 90s no longer financially dependent on men, so this means will divorce and lead an independent life and openly choose divorce

Question 19

What does increased choice for women: Jennifer Somerville ?

Answer 19

Women have greater choice and will openly choose to divorce and will choose to leave marriage if they do feel satisfied and take choice with freedom

Question 20

What does women’s greater participation in labour force say ?

Answer 20

Equal pay act and sex discrimination act so Women are getting paid equally to men and getting jobs with good income so do not need man to rely on