Topic 5 - Changing family patterns Flashcards
1969 - The Divorce Law Reform Act (came into effect in 1971)
This made irretrievable breakdown of marriage the sole ground for divorce.
This means proving that the marriage had broken down beyond repair – could be established by proving unreasonable behaviour, adultery, desertion, separation.
Divorce was available after 2 years of agreed separation or 5 years if one partner did not agree.
1984 - The Matrimonial and Family Proceeding Act
The minimum period when divorce could be sought was reduced from 3 years to 1.
This led to a record increase in divorces between 1984-1985.
1996 - The Family Law Act (came into effect in 1999)
This increased the amount of time a couple had to be married (from 12 months to 18 months) before a divorce could be granted
Couples also had to attend compulsory counselling (although this was abandoned eventually as it was found that people were more likely to divorce afterwards, even if unsure initially)
Couples also had to agree on children’s wishes and financial arrangements
Changes in the law evaluation
Although a number of policies have been implemented which have caused the nuclear family to die, some would argue that have also allowed the nuclear family to re-emerge in more postmodern forms.
For example, although the Divorce Reform Act 1969 has supported a rise in divorces, it also allows for remarriages, with 4/10 divorces being remarriages.
Consequently, society has seen a growth in reconstituted families.
Secularisation
Functionalism state the church has lost its power to influence individuals morals.
Functionalists suggest society has progressed and it is no longer viewed as sinful to live in family types outside the traditional nuclear family e.g. singlehood or single parent families.
As a result, the church’s opposition to divorce carries less weight & people are less likely to consider religious teachings when making such a personal decision.
➜ An important change since the 1960s, is the decline in stigma attached to divorce.
Mitchell and Goody (1997)
As stigma declines and divorces becomes more socially acceptable, couples become more willing to resort to divorce as a means of solving their marital problems - divorce has now been ‘normalised’.
Evualtion of secularisation
Ballard: In British Asian communities, divorce is still stigmatised (looked down on) often due to religion. Many stay in unhappy marriages.
Ballard found south Asian people tend to be more traditional in their family values than – they place high value on marriage and rarely divorce
Rising Expectations
Functionalist sociologist Fletcher (1966) argues that the higher expectations people place on marriage today are a major cause of rising divorce rates.
Higher expectations make couples less willing to tolerate an unhappy marriage.
Giddens: shift from romantic love to a ‘confluent love’ – no longer forever and one and only, both partners have mutual satisfaction and stay because they want to.
evaluation of rising expectations
Feminists argue functionalists ignore the oppression women face and how it is the main cause of divorce. Functionalists fail to explain why is it mainly women who seek divorce and not men.
Postmodernist Beck argues the increased choice in relationships has led to a rise in relationship breakdown, personal upset and feelings of unhappiness.
Changes in the position of women
One reason for women’s willingness to seek a divorce is improvements in their economic position - they are no longer financially dependent on their husband.
Girls greater success and ambition helps them to achieve better paid jobs.
Welfare benefits mean women can obtain money without their husband.
Liberal Feminist Sharpe (1994)
Girls are now more ambitious and have higher aspirations, which has led to a shift in their priorities. They are no longer fixated on marriage, children and the idea of the traditional housewife role, rather they are career driven.
Changes in the position of women
New Right
Murray – the welfare system has made it possible for women to have children outside the traditional nuclear family, as they no longer require financial stability from marriage.
Evaluation of Rising divorce rate
People are still getting married, however at a later stage of life. The average age for men and women to marry today is between 30-32.
Remarriage is still popular. ONS 2012: 19% of marriages are remarriages for one partner and 16% are for both partners.
Murray (1984) argues women have not gained greater independence, rather they rely on welfare benefits to support them.
Femenist Expliantion for rising divorce
Hochschild (1997) - At work, women feel valued; however this is not the case in the home. Men’s resistance to doing housework builds frustration and makes marriages less stable and leading to divorce.
Evaluation of the Femenist expliantion
Cook and Gash (2010) found no evidence that working women are more likely to divorce. They argue that this is because working has now become the accepted norm for women.
Modernity and Individualisation
Beck (1992) and Giddens (1992) – argue in a modern society, traditional norms, such as the duty to remain with the same partner for life, lose their hold over individuals.
Individuals pursue their own self-interests, and so relationships become more fragile.
Evaluation of modernity and individualism
Some sociologists argue that modernity encourages people to adopt a neoliberal, consumerist identity, based on the idea of freedom to follow one’s own self-interest.
This pursuit of self interest is likely to pull spouses apart.
The New Right
persepective on divorce
Undermines marriage
Damages nuclear family
Grows underclass
Increases welfare dependent lone parents (usually female)
Leaves children (usually boys) without role models
Has a negative effect on education & health
Feminist perspective on divorce rate
Supports women breaking free of patriarchal marriages
Shows how women are moving away from traditional ideals on nuclear family
Highlights women’s improved economic position
Shows decline in stigma associated with divorce & lone parenting
Postmodernist perspective on divorce
Illustrates freedom of choice to pursue own interest
People have choice to end relationship when doesn’t meet needs
Helps establish more diverse family diversity types
Removes stigma associated with divorce
Functionalist perspective on divorce
Shows evolution of social institutions which still remain important in society
Highlights how people have higher expectations for marriage
Divorce does not mean marriage is broken more people want an ideal marriage which can benefit society
Interactionalist perspective on divorce
Can’t generalise divorce as individuals experiences are different
Divorce can provide escape from toxicity of marriage
Can have negative impacts (e.g. financial & psychological)
Can be neutral impact and be seen as “one transaction amongst others in life course”
Functionalism and divorce
Ronald Fletcher (1966) argued that the higher expectations people place on marriage today are a major cause of rising divorce rates. Higher expectations make couples today less willing to tolerate unhappy marriage.
Feminism and divorce
Arlie Hochschild (1997): at work women feel valued. At home, men’s continuing resistance to housework is a source of frustration and makes marriage less stable.
New Right and divorce
Dennis and Erdos: divorce is leading to families without fathers. Boys are growing up without a positive male role model in their life. As a result, the trend is that boys turn to anti-social behaviour finding fulfilment in gangs and criminal behaviour.
Postmodernism and divorce
Beck and Gernsheim: rising divorce rates are the product of a rapidly changing world in which the traditional rules, rituals and traditions of love, romance and relationships no longer apply.
Interactionism and divorce
David Morgan (1996) argues that we cannot generalise about the meaning of divorce because every individual’s interpretation of it is different.
Patterns of Marriage
- Marriage Rates are at their lowest since the 1920s
- Re-Marriage however is rising
- People are marrying at older ages.
- ‘Church-based’ marriages are declining.
Reasons for decline in marriage: Changing social attitudes and reduced social stigma
Few people now regard cohabiting, remaining single and having children outside marriage as morally wrong, and there is reduced social stigma attached to these alternatives to marriage
E.g. 1989 - 70% believed that couples who wanted children should get married but by 2012, only 42% thought so
Evaluation of Changing social attitudes and reduced social stigma as a reason for decilne in marriage
British Social Attitudes survey (2000) found that only 9% saw marriage as a ‘pointless piece of paper’ whilst 72% felt it was still important
Reasons for decline in marriage: The decline of religious influence on people’s lives (secularisation)
Growing secularisation has meant the declining influence of religion’s favouring of marriage and less condemnation of cohabitation
Only 30% of marriages now occur in a church (and often this is just to have a pretty venue rather than the religious element!)
Evaluation of secularisation as a reason for decline in marriage
However, Britain is becoming increasingly ethnically and culturally diverse and minority ethnic groups tend to be more religious for a variety of reasons and therefore marriage remains a popular option among many groups
Reasons for decline in marriage: Changes in the position of women and feminism
More economic independence and career prospects gives women more freedom to choose their relationships
Higher expectations of relationships and rejection of the patriarchal features, which, as feminists point out, still dominate women’s roles in marriage (such as the dual burden)
Evaluation of changes in the position of women for decline in marriage
E: Women might have careers but many still value marriage – they’re just doing it later!
