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sociology - families & households > changing family patterns > Flashcards

changing family patterns Flashcards

1
Q

explanations for increase in divorce

A

changes in the law, declining stigma and changing attitudes, secularisation, rising expectations of marriage, women’s increased financial independence, feminist explanations, modernity & individualisation

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2
Q

changes in the law - 1957

A

men could divorce unfaithful wives, women had to prove husbands cruelty

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3
Q

changes in the law - 1923

A

grounds for divorce equalised became more easier for women to divorce

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4
Q

changes in the law - 1937

A

grounds widened to include desertion and cruelty - more reasons to be able to divorce

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5
Q

changes in the law - 1949

A

divorce more affordable - more accessible

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6
Q

changes in the law - 1969

A

Divorce Law Reform Act passed

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7
Q

changes in the law - 2004

A

Civil Partnership Act

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8
Q

changes in the law - 2014

A

same sex marriage became legal

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9
Q

define stigma

A

negative label, social disapproval or shame attached to a person, action or relationship

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10
Q

declining stigma and changing attitudes as explanations for increase in divorce

A

As stigma declines, divorce becomes more socially acceptable and couples become willing to resort to divorce
As divorce has became more common, it reduces stigma

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11
Q

declining stigma and changing attitudes as explanations for increase in divorce - Mitchell & Goody

A

Important change since 1960s has been rapid decline in stigma

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12
Q

define secularisation

A

decline in the influence of religion in society

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13
Q

secularisation as explanation of increase in divorce

A

Sociologists argue religious institutions are losing influence and society is becoming more secular
Traditional opposition of churches to divorce carried less weight in society and people are less likely to be influenced by religious teachings when making decisions about personal matters
Many churches have began to soften their view on divorce, perhaps as they fear losing credibility

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14
Q

rising expectations of marriage as explanation of increase in divorce

A

In the past, individuals had little choice in who they married as the family was unit of production, marriages were contracted for economic reasons. Individuals were unlikely to have high expectations, entering marriage with low expectations, they were less likely to be dissatisfied by absence of romance
Today, marriage is viewed as a relationship in which individuals seek personal fulfilment

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15
Q

rising expectations of marriage as explanation of increase in divorce - Fletcher

A

Higher expectations people place on marriage are major cause of rising divorce rates
Links to ideology of romantic love - idea that has become dominant over last couple of centuries. Belief that marriage should be based solely on love

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16
Q

rising expectations of marriage as explanation of increase in divorce criticisms

A

Feminists criticise functionalists as too rosy a view - oppression of women within the family is main cause of divorce
Functionalists fail to explain why its mainly women who seek divorce

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17
Q

women’s increased financial independence as explanation of increase in divorce

A

Improvements in women’s economic position have made them less financially dependent on their husbands and freer to end unsatisfactory marriage
Women are more likely to be in paid work - 53% (1971)-67% (2013)
Equal pay and anti-discrimination laws have helped narrow pay gap
Girls greater success in education helps achieve better paid jobs
Availability of welfare benefits means women no longer have to remain financially dependent on husbands

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18
Q

women’s increased financial independence as explanation of increase in divorce - Allen & Crow

A

Marriage is less embedded within economic system
Fewer family firms and family isn’t a unit of production, so spouses aren’t dependent on each other economically
Women now have own separate source of income
Women don’t have to rely on husbands financially so they don’t have to tolerate conflict and are more willing to seek divorce

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19
Q

Feminist explanations for increase in divorce - Hochschild

A

Home compares with work
Work - women feels valued
Home - men continuing resistance to doing housework is source of frustration and makes marriage more stable
Both partners go to work, leaving less time and energy for emotion work
Contributes to divorce rates

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20
Q

Feminist explanations for increase in divorce - Sigle-Rushton

A

Mothers who have dual burden of paid work and domestic work are likely to divorce than non working mothers

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21
Q

Feminist explanations for increase in divorce - Cooke & Gash

A

No evidence that working women are more likely to divorce
Working has now become the accepted norm

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22
Q

Feminist explanations for increase in divorce - Bernard

A

Women are becoming conscious of patriarchal oppression and more confident about rejecting it

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23
Q

modernity & individualisation as explanation for increase in divorce

A

individualisation thesis
relationships become more fragile because individuals become unwilling to remain with a partner if relationship fails to deliver personal fulfilment
pure relationship
Modern society encourages individualism in other ways - work, education - which can cause conflict of interests between spouses and contribute to martial breakdown
Modernity encourages people to adopt neoliberal, consumerist identity based on idea of freedom to follow one’s own self interest

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24
Q

individualisation thesis - Beck & Giddens

A

Traditional norms lose their hold over individuals
As a result, individual becomes free to pursue their own self interest

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25
Q

pure relationship - Giddens

A

Relationship that exists solely to satisfy each partners needs and not out of sense of duty, tradition or sake of children
Results in higher divorce rates

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26
Q

other solutions rather than divorce

A

desertion, legal seperation, empty shell marriage

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27
Q

define desertion

A

where one partner leaves the other but remain legally married

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28
Q

define legal separation

A

where court separates financial and legal affairs but remain married

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29
Q

define empty shell marriage

A

couples continue to live together but remain married in name only

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30
Q

new right - divorce

A

High divorce rate is undesirable because it undermines marriage and traditional nuclear family which is vital to social stability
High divorce rate creates growing underclass of welfare dependent female lone parents who are a burden on state and leaves boys without male adult role model

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31
Q

feminists - divorce

A

High divorce rate is desirable because it shows women are finally breaking free from oppression of patriarchal nuclear family

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32
Q

postmodernists & individualisation thesis - divorce

A

High divorce rate is showing individuals now have freedom to choose to end a relationship when it no longer meets their needs
Major cause of greater family diversity

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33
Q

functionalists - divorce

A

High divorce rates aren’t a threat to marriage as social institution
Result of peoples higher expectations of marriage
High rate of remarriages shows peoples continuing commitment to marriage

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34
Q

interactionists - divorce

A

Aim to understand what divorce means to the individual

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35
Q

Morgan (interactionist) - divorce

A

Can’t generalise about meaning of divorce because individual’s interpretation is different

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36
Q

personal life perspective - divorce

A

Accepts divorce can cause problems and lack of daily contact between children and non-resident parents

37
Q

fewer people are marrying

A

lowest rate since 1920s

38
Q

more remarriages

A

in 2012, 1/3 marriages were remarriages

39
Q

people are marrying later

A

average age of marriage rose 7 years between 1971 and 2012

40
Q

couples are less likely to marry in church

A

1981 - 60% weddings were held in a church
2012 - 30% weddings were held in a church

41
Q

reasons why marriage patterns are changing

A

changing attitudes, secularisation, declining stigma to alternatives, changes in position of women, fear of divorce, remarriage, age on marrying

42
Q

changing attitudes as explanation on why marriage patterns are changing

A

less pressure to marry
more freedom for individuals to choose the type of relationship they want

43
Q

secularisation as explanation on why marriage patterns are changing

A

as religious organisations influence declines, people feel freer to choose not to marry

44
Q

declining stigma to alternatives as explanation on why marriage patterns are changing

A

cohabitation, remaining single and having children outside marriage are widely regarded as acceptable

45
Q

changes in positions of women as explanation on why marriage patterns are changing

A

women have better educational and career prospects, women are less economically dependent on men, greater freedom to not marry

46
Q

fear of divorce as explanation on why marriage patterns are changing

A

may be put off marriage from seeing increased likelihood of marriage ending in divorce

47
Q

age on marrying as explanation on why marriage patterns are changing

A

young people are postponing marriage in order to spend longer in education and establish a career first

48
Q

define cohabitation

A

unmarried couple in sexual relationship living together

49
Q

trial marriage as cohabitation

A

Most cohabiting couples decide to marry if they have children
Temporary phrase before marriage
Covers diverse range of partnerships

50
Q

trial marriage as cohabitation - Bejin

A

Cohabitation among young people represents conscious attempt to create more personally negotiated and equal relationship

51
Q

reasons for cohabitation

A

decline in stigma attached to sex outside marriage, young are more likely to accept cohabitation, young with no religion are more likely to cohabit, increased career opportunities for women mean they don’t need to financially rely on men

52
Q

same sex marriages

A

5-7% adult population have same sex relationships
Increased social acceptance
Male homosexual acts were decriminalised in 1967 for consenting adults over 21
Age of consent has been equalised with heterosexuals
Social policy threats all couples more equally

53
Q

Social policy threats all couples more equally - 2002

A

cohabiting couples have had same right to adopt as married couples

54
Q

Social policy threats all couples more equally - 2004

A

Civil Partnership Act gave same sex couples similar rights to married couples

55
Q

Social policy threats all couples more equally - 2014

A

same sex couples can marry

56
Q

Weeks - same sex marriage

A

Increased social acceptance may explain trend towards same sex cohabitation and stable relationships that resemble those found among heterosexuals
Gays as creating families based on idea of ‘friendship as kinship’ where friendships become kinship networks - chosen families

57
Q

Weston - same sex marriage

A

Same sex cohabitation as ‘quasi marriage’
Notes many gay couples are deciding to cohabit as stable partners
Contrasts this with gay lifestyle of 1970s which largely rejected monogamy and family life in favour of casual relationships

58
Q

Alan & Crow - same sex marriage

A

Because of the absence of a framework until recently, same sex partners have had to negotiate their commitment and responsibilities more
Made same sex relationships more flexible and less time and less stable

59
Q

reasons for living alone

A

following divorce, children are likely to live with their mother and father will leave family home
decline in people marrying
too few partners available

60
Q

living apart together - Duncan & Phillips

A

1 in 10 adults are living apart together - significant relationship but no marriage or cohabiting
Half the people classified as single
Suggests may reflect trend towards less formalised relationships
Choice and constraint play a part in whether couples live together
Doesn’t amount to a reject of more traditional relationships

61
Q

reasons for increase in birth outside marriage

A

decline in stigma
increase in cohabitation

62
Q

reasons for women having children at later age

A

more options
careers

63
Q

22% of all families are lone parent families

A

90% of these were headed by lone mothers
Until early 1990s, divorced women were biggest group of lone mothers
Child living with lone parent is 2x to be in poverty

64
Q

reasons for lone parent families

A

Increase in divorce
Increase in number of never married women having children
Decline in stigma attached to births outside marriage

65
Q

reasons for lone parents families headed by lone mothers

A

Widespread belief women were nature suited
Divorce courts give custody of child to mother
Father may be less willing to look after children
Single by choice

66
Q

lone parent families - Murray

A

Growth of lone parent families resulting from overgenerous welfare state providing benefits for unmarried mothers and children
Perverse incentive - rewards irresponsible behaviour
Welfare state creates dependency culture which people assume state will support them
Solution is to abolish welfare benefits - reduce dependency culture

67
Q

lone parent families evaluation

A

Welfare benefits are far from being generous
Lone parent families are likely to be in poverty

68
Q

why are lone parent families likely to be in poverty

A

Lack of affordable childcare prevents parent from working
Inadequate welfare benefits
Most are mothers who generally earn less
Failure of fathers to pay maintenance

69
Q

stepfamilies

A

85% stepfamilies, at least 1 child is from women’s previous relationship
11% stepfamilies, at least 1 child is from man’s previous relationship
4% stepfamilies, children from both partners previous relationships

70
Q

stepfamilies - Ferri & Smith

A

Stepfamilies are very similar to first families
Involvement of stepparents in childcare and childrearing is positive
Greater risk of poverty

71
Q

stepfamilies - Allan & Crow

A

Stepfamilies may face particular problem of divided loyalties and issues

72
Q

stepfamilies - McCarthy

A

Diversity among these families
Some have few tensions but aren’t different from ‘intact families’

73
Q

reasons for step families

A

Step families are formed when lone parents form new partnerships
More children in stepfamilies are from women’s previous relationship because when marriages and cohabitations break up, children are more likely to remain with mother
Greater risk of poverty
Some tensions may be result of lack of clear social norms

74
Q

ethnic differences

A

Immigration since 1950s have helped to create greater ethnic diversity
Migrants brought with them the family patterns of their countries of origin

75
Q

Berthoud (ethnic differences)

A

British culture is becoming more individualistic
Impact on patterns of family life among different ethnic groups
Compared family patterns among 3 broad ethnic groups in 1990s - British south Asians, black British Caribbeans and white British

76
Q

British south Asian families (Berthoud)

A

More traditional family life
Higher rates of marriage
Low rates of cohabitation and divorce
Couples married younger
Fertility rates were higher
Arranged marriages were relatively common among Sikhs and Muslims
Little intermarriage with other ethnic groups
High rate of 3 generation households

77
Q

white British families (Berthoud)

A

Lower marriage rates
Lower fertility rates
Later marriage rates
Smaller family sizes
Higher rates of cohabitation and divorce
Arranged marriages were unknown
Intermarriage was common
Separate household

78
Q

black British Caribbean families - Berthoud

A

Lower marriage rates
Fertility rates similar to white British families
Higher rates of lone parenthood
High rates of intermarriage

79
Q

changes in British Asian families

A

Rising rates of lone parenthood
Between 1991 and 2011, proportion of lone parent British Pakistani families increased from 10% to 17%
Attitudes to divorce among British Pakistanis changed

80
Q

Attitudes to divorce among British Pakistanis changed - Qureshi

A

First generation migrants had earlier been strongly opposed to divorce but was now growing acceptance
Cultural conflicts in arranged marriages between British born Pakistanis and Pakistan born spouses become source of marital instability and were seen as risky
While attitudes aren’t as individualistic in wider society, British Pakistani families are becoming less distinctive

81
Q

changes in black British families

A

Higher proportion of lone parents
Low proportion of married and cohabiting couple families

82
Q

changes in black British families - Reynolds

A

Statistics on lone parenthood are missing
Many lone parents are stable, supportive but non cohabiting relationships with visiting partner
Emphasises fluid and adaptive nature of black family relationships

83
Q

changes in black British families - Mizra

A

Higher rate of lone parent black families reflect high value black women place on independence
Reflects Berthoud’s ideas that black British Carribbean families are leading trend towards modern individualism and personal choice

84
Q

Charles’ study of Swansea

A

Found 3 generation family all living together is now all but extinct
Only significant expectations are found among Bangladeshi’s community

85
Q

WIllmott - extended family today

A

Extended family continues to exist as dispersed extended family
Relatives are geographically separated but maintain frequent contact

86
Q

Chamberlain - study of extended families in Britian

A

Despite being geographically dispersed, continue to provide support
Multiple nuclear families with close and frequent contact between siblings, uncles, aunts and cousins who make a big contribution to childrearing

87
Q

Bell - extended family today

A

Earlier research in Swansea found both working class and middle class had emotional bonds with kin and replied on them for support
Among middle class, more financial help from father to son
Working class families had more frequent contact and there was more domestic help from mothers to daughters

88
Q

Beanpole family

A

Type of extended family
Extended vertically
Not extended horizontally
Result of 2 demographic changes - Increased life expectancy & smaller family sizes

sociology - families & households (8 decks)

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