What do sociologists think of divorce trends?

Question 1

Beck and Giddens (regarding modernity and individualisation)

Answer 1

In modern society, traditional norms and values have lost their hold over individuals. Resultantly, individuals become free to pursue their own self-interest if their marriage doesn’t deliver personal fulfilment or satisfies their needs

Question 2

Feminists

Answer 2

A high divorce rate:

• is desirable
• women are escaping the oppression of the patriarchal nuclear family

Question 3

Postmodernists

Answer 3

A high divorce rate:

- gives individuals the freedom to choose to end a relationship if they’re not satisfied

Question 4

Functionalists

Answer 4

A high divorce rate:

• doesn’t prove that marriage as a social institution is under threat, simply that people have higher expectations of marriage
• high remarriage rate shows people’s commitment to the idea of marriage

Question 5

Interactionists

Answer 5

A high divorce rate:

- varies from being positive and necessary to a negative emotional development

Question 6

The New Right

Answer 6

A high divorce rate:

• is undesirable
• undermines the traditional nuclear family
• divorce creates an underclass of welfare-dependent female single parents and means boys don’t have a male role model in the family