Changing family patterns

Question 1

Between the 1930’s and the 2010’s how had patterns of marriage and divorce changed ?

Answer 1

there had been an overall decrease in marriage
and there was also an overall increase in divorces

Question 2

What are some explanations for the increase in divorce ?

Answer 2

Changes in the law
Declining stigma
Secularisation
Rising expectations of marriage
Women’s financial independence
Modernity

Question 3

What were some of the changes in the law that lead to increases in divorce ?

Answer 3

Equalising the grounds for who can divorce who

Widening the grounds for divorce

Making divorce cheeper

Question 4

What is meant by declining stigma and changing attitudes in terms of divorce ?

Answer 4

The disappearance of the negative label social disproval or shame attached to the idea of divorce

Question 5

What is meant by secularisation ?

Answer 5

The decline in the influence of religion in society

Question 6

What were Ronald fletcher’s (1966) ideas on the higher expectations of marriage ?

Answer 6

He says that higher expectations make couples less willing to tolerate an unhappy marriage

Question 7

What are Jeffery weeks (1999) ideas on chosen family ?

Answer 7

Argues that increased social acceptance may explain a tread towards same sex cohabitation and stable relationships

Question 8

What is the most common type household in the uk ?

Answer 8

Individual person household

Question 9

What percentage of Lone parent families make up all families with children ?

Answer 9

22%

Question 10

What is a reconstituted family ?

Answer 10

Step-families that now make up 10% of all families with dependant children in the uk

Question 11

What did Charles (2008) say ?

Answer 11

The beanpole or 3 generational family all living together is all but extinct

Question 12

What did Chamberlin argue ?

Answer 12

Study of Caribbean families found that although extended families were geologically dispersed, they continue to provide support