Trends In The Family Flashcards
Why has there been an increase in divorce?
Changes in the law
Declining stigma and changing attitudes
Secularisation
Rising expectations of marriage
Women’s increased financial independence
Modernity and individualisation
How did changes in the law contribute to the increase in divorce?
Changes in the law have made divorces easier and more accessible
How did declining stigma and changing attitudes contribute to the increase in divorce?
Divorce has become more common and socially acceptable. People don’t fear the disapproval and negative label as much so they are more likely to opt for divorce if they are in an unhappy marriage
How did secularisation contribute to the increase in divorce?
Many religions see divorce as a sin, however the decline in influence in religion has caused more people to accept it
How did rising expectations of marriage contribute to the increase in divorce?
Higher expectations make couples less willing to tolerate an unhappy marriage. If people are not completely happy they are more likely to get divorced now
How did women’s increased financial independence contribute to the increase in divorce?
Women are becoming less financially dependant on their husbands so they are freer to end an unsatisfactory marriage
How did modernity and individualisation contribute to the increase in divorce?
Traditional norms, such as the duty to remain with the same partner for life lose their hold over people
As a result they have become free to follow their own self interests
Why has there been a decrease in marriage?
Changing attitudes
Secularisation
Declining stigma attatched to alternatives to marriage
Changes in the position of women
Fear of divorce
How did changing attitudes contribute to the decrease in marriages?
There is less pressure to marry and now individuals have more freedom to choose the type of relationship they want
How did secularisation contribute to the decrease in marriages?
The churches are in favor of marriage but as their influence declines, people feel freer to choose not to marry
How did declining stigma attatched to alternatives to marriage contribute to the decrease in marriages?
Cohabitation, remaining single, and having children outside of marriage are all now widely acceptable so people are choosing these over marriage
How did changes in the position of women contribute to the decrease in marriages?
With better educational and career prospects, women are less economically dependent on men. This has caused more women to choose to marry later or not at all
How did fear of divorce contribute to the decrease in marriages?
Some people are put off marrying because of the increased likelihood that it may end in divorce
Why are there more single person households?
An increase in separation and divorce has created more one person households as children are more likely to live with their mother after divorce, leaving the fathers alone
Less marrying/marrying later has caused more people to live alone
Some couples choose to ‘live apart together’ , meaning that they are in a relationship but live by themselves
Why are there more single parent families?
The increase in separation and divorce
Less stigma towards having children outside of marriage
Some mothers choose to be single and raise a baby by themselves
Some working class mothers with less money choose to live on welfare benefits without a partner
Why has there been a rise in reconstituted families?
Higher rates of separation and divorce had led to more people remarrying and forming stepfamilies
Statistics on stepfamilies
Account for over 10% of all families with dependant children in Britain
In 85% at least one child is from the women’s previous relationship
In 11% at least one child is from the man’s
In 4% children are from both
Why are children more likely to be from the mother’s previous relationship in a reconstituted family?
After divorce/separation children are more likely to stay with their mother
Statistics on lone parent families
22% of families with children are lone parent
90% are headed by mothers
A child living with a lone parent is twice as likely to be in poverty
Statistics on one person households
In 2013 almost 3 in 10 households contained 1 person
40% of one person households are over 65
