changing family patterns-partnerships(cohabtation)

Question 1

what do structuralist theories (feminism,functionalism,marxism) argue?

Answer 1

A typical family structure exists and this structure closely linked to nuclear family - heterosexual married couple with dependent children

Question 2

why is there changing patterns of marriage?

Answer 2

-changing roles of women
-changing social attitudes
-reduced functions of the family
-secularisation
-rising divorce rate
-expense of marriage
-less fear of divorce
-the individualization thesis

Question 3

cohabitation

Answer 3

involves an unmarried couple in a sexual relationship living together

Question 4

the number of couples cohabitating has increased in UK with about how much of all unmarried adults under 60 cohabiting?

Answer 4

about 25% of all unmarried adults under 60 cohabiting, double the number in 1986

Question 5

what is expected to happen to the number of cohabiting couples by 2021?

Answer 5

the number of cohabiting couples are expected to double by 2021

Question 6

reasons for the increase in cohabitation

Answer 6

-secularisation , marriage less religiously signifcant
-see cohabitation as a transition period before marriage
-viewed as an alternative to marriage

Question 7

perspectives on cohabitation
(coast)

Answer 7

-some couples see cohabitation as a step on the path to marriage, Coast(2006) 75% of cohabiting couples expect to marry each other

Question 8

perspectives on cohabitation (Bejin)(1985)

Answer 8

cohabitation is a conscious attempt made by some young people to create a more equal relationship than traditional patriarchal marriage