1. Divorce

Question 1

Summary

Answer 1

1. Changing Patterns of Divorce

Explanations for Increase in Divorce:

2. Changes in the Law
3. Declining Stigma and Changing Attitudes
4. Secularisation
5. Rising Expectations of Marriage
6. Feminist Explanations
7. Modernity and Individualisation
8. Meaning of a High Divorce Rate

Question 2

1. Changing Patterns of Divorce

Answer 2

• Since the 1960s: increase in UK divorces
• Number doubled from 1961-69 (doubled again by 72)
• Trend peaked in 1993: 165,000
• Now, 40% of marriages will end in divorce
• 65% of petitions come from women (1946: 37%)

Question 3

2. Changes in the Law (Explanation)

Answer 3

Three kings of change in the law…

1. Equalising the Grounds
   - 1923: followed by a sharp rise in the number of divorce
2. Widening the Grounds
   - 1971: widened to ‘irretrievably breakdown’, making divorce easier to obtain
3. Making it Cheaper
   - 1949: introduction of legal aid for divorce
   - Other solutions: desertion, legal separation, ‘empty shell’ marriage.

Question 4

3. Declining Stigma and Changing Attitudes

Answer 4

• In the past, divorce has been stigmatised (churches)
• Mitchell and Goody: Important change since 1960s has been decline in stigma attached to divorce
• Divorce is being ‘normalised’

Question 5

4. Secularisation

Answer 5

• Opposition of churches to divorce has less influence due to secularisation

Question 6

5. Rising Expectations of Marriage

Answer 6

• Fletcher (Functionalist): higher expectations placed on marriage is a major cause of rising divorce
• Higher expectations makes people less willing to tolerate unhappy marriage (Ideology of romantic love - Mr Right)
• If love dies, there is no reason to stay married
• Allan and Crow: love is a cornerstone of marriage, if this dies it is a justification for divorce

Question 7

6. Women’s Financial Independence

Answer 7

• Women much more likely to be in paid work
• Proportion of women in paid work rose from 53% (1971) to 67% (2013)
• (Equal Pay Act 1970, Sex Discrimination Act 1975, 30-15)
• Girls success in education
• Availability of welfare benefits (decreases dependency
• Allan and Crow: ‘marriage is embedded within the economic system’

Question 8

7. Feminist Explanations

Answer 8

• Women today bear a dual burden
• In the family, change has been slow
• Hochschild: for many women, home compares unfavourably with work
• At work, women feel valued
• At home, men’s continued resistance of housework is a source of frustration.
• In addition, both partners working leaves less time for emotion work
• Bernard (Rad Fem): increase in petitions from women shows growing acceptance of feminism and dissatisfaction with patriarchy.

Question 9

8. Modernity and Individualisation

Answer 9

• Beck + Giddens: tradition has lost influence
• Individualisation thesis: individuals are freer to pursue own self-interest
• Giddens: pure relationship exists solely for personal fulfilment.
• As a result, relationships are more fragile

Question 10

9. Meaning of High Divorce Rate

Answer 10

• New Right: High divorce rate undermines traditional nuclear family which is vital for social stability.
• This leads to a growing underclass of welfare-dependent female lone parents who leave boys with no male role model.
• Feminists: high divorce rate is desirable (women are breaking free from oppression of patriarchal nuclear family)
• Postmodernists / Individualisation Thesis: high divorce rate shows that individuals now have the freedom (greater family diversity)
• Functionalists: high divorce rate is not necessarily a threat to marriage )high rate of re-marriage shows people’s continuing commitment to marriage)
• Interactionists: Morgan: we cannot generalise about the meaning of divorce’ every individual interpretation is different.
• Personal Life Perspective: accepts divorce can cause problems
• However, Smart argues that divorce has become ‘normalised’ and family life can adapt.