Changing Family Patterns

Question 1

Divorce

Since when has there been a great increase in the number or divorces in the UK?

Answer 1

1960s

Question 2

Divorce

Between what years did the number of divorces double?

Answer 2

1961 and 1969

Question 3

Divorce

What year did divorce rates double again?

Answer 3

1972

Question 4

Divorce

Complete the sentence..
The upward trend continued, peaking in
a) ____
b) at ____

Answer 4

a) 1993
b) 165 000

Question 5

Divorce

Decsribe the more recent trends in divorce rates?

Answer 5

numbers have fallen somewhat, but still
stood at 118,000 in 2012

Question 6

Divorce

What were the approximate divorce rates in 2012?

Answer 6

118 000

Question 7

Divorce

How many times higher were divorce rates in 2012 than in 1961?

Answer 7

6

Question 8

Divorce

The divorce rate in 2012 shows that what % of all marriages will end in divorce?

Answer 8

40%

Question 9

Divorce

What are the reasons for the fall in the number of divorces?

Answer 9

• Changing attitude to margin divorce
• Increase in age at first marriage
• Rise in cohabitation
• Economic factors
• Changes in law
• Secularisation
• Increase in remarriage and blended families

Question 10

Divorce

Approximately what percentage of petitions (applications) for divorce now come from women?

Answer 10

65%

Question 11

Divorce

In 1946 what percentage of petitions came from women?

Answer 11

37%

Question 12

Divorce

What is the most common reason for a woman to be granted a divorce?

Answer 12

The unreasonable behaviour of her husband

Question 13

Divorce

What are included in the couples whose marriages are at greatest risk of divorce?

Answer 13

• Those who marry young
• Who have a child before they marry
• Cohabit before they marry
• Wear one or both partners have been married before

Question 14

Divorce

Describe the history of divorce before 1857

Answer 14

Divorce was virtually non-existent and only obtainable by special and costly act of parliament

Question 15

Divorce

How did divorce trends change in 1857?

Answer 15

• Men could divorce unfaithful wives
• But women also had to prove husbands cruelty or another matrimonial offense in addition to adultery
• Divorce is still very costly

Question 16

Divorce

How many divorces occurred in 1921?

Answer 16

3000

Question 17

Divorce

In what year were grounds for divorce equally for men and women?

Answer 17

1923

Question 18

Divorce

What did the grounds of divorce widen to include in 1937?

Answer 18

Desertion and cruelty

Question 19

Divorce

How did divorce change in 1949?

Answer 19

• Legal aid was available
• Making divorce more affordable

Question 20

Divorce

How many divorces were there in 1961?

Answer 20

27,000

Question 21

Divorce

When was the divorce law reform act passed and when did it come into effect?

Answer 21

• Passed in 1969
• Came into effect in 1971

Question 22

Divorce

Describe what happened in 1969 surrounding divorce
other than the divorce law form act

Answer 22

The idea of a matrimonial offence or guilty party was abolished

Question 23

Divorce

What did the abolition of the idea of a matrimonial offence or guilty party make? - 1969

Answer 23

• ‘Irretrievable breakdown’ of marriage the sole ground for divorce established by proving unreasonable behaviour, adultery assertion or separation either with or without consent
• Divorce available after two years with agreed separation of five years of only one spouse wants to divorce

Question 24

Divorce

Describe change changes in divorce in 1984

Answer 24

The minimum period after a marriage before a divorce petition could be filed and was reduced from three years to one

Question 25

# Divorce What are the family law act of 1996 encourage?

Answer 25

* Couples to seek mediation * but allows divorce agreement after a 'period of reflection'

Question 26

# Divorce What did the civil partnership act of 2004 allow for?

Answer 26

Legal dissolution of a civil partnership on the same grounds as for a marriage Irretrievable breakdown

Question 27

# Divorce In 2019 the civil partnerships act was extended to who?

Answer 27

Opposite sex couples

Question 28

# Divorce What did the extension of the civil partnership act to opposite sex couples in 2019 mean?

Answer 28

Impacts choice and family diversity

Question 29

# Divorce In what year did same-sex marriage become law?

Answer 29

2014

Question 30

# Divorce What did the legalisation of same-sex marriages in 2014 mean?

Answer 30

The same girls for divorce apply to both same sex and opposite sex couples

Question 31

# Divorce What act was introduced in 2020 surrounding divorce?

Answer 31

The Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020

Question 32

# Divorce When did The Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 come into effect?

Answer 32

Sixth of April 2022

Question 33

# Divorce Describe The Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020

Answer 33

* Introduced "no-fault divorce" – couples no longer need to blame each other (e.g., for adultery or unreasonable behaviour). * Either one partner or both jointly can apply for divorce. * Removes the possibility of one partner contesting the divorce. * Introduced a minimum 20-week reflection period before finalisation

Question 34

# Divorce What was the significance of The Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020?

Answer 34

* Makes the process less adversarial, reducing emotional conflict. * Recognises that relationships can break down without blame—a more modern, realistic view of marriage and separation.

Question 35

# Divorce What view does The Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 fit in with?

Answer 35

* The postmodern view * that relationships are based on personal fulfilment rather than lifelong duty.

Question 36

# Divorce What explanations have sociologists identified for the increase in divorce? 1. 2. 3.

Answer 36

1. Changes in the law 2. Declining stigma and changing attitudes 3. Secularisation

Question 37

# Divorce What explanations have sociologists identified for the increase in divorce? 1. Changes in the law 2. Declining stigma and changing attitudes 3. Secularisation 4. ? 5. ? 6. ? 7. ?

Answer 37

4. Rising expectations of marriage 5. Womens increased financial independence 6. Feminist explanations 7. Modernity and Individualisation

Question 38

# Divorce List all the explanations for increases in divorce

Answer 38

1. Changes in the law 1. Declining stigma and changing attitudes 1. Secularisation 1. Rising expectations of marriage 1. Womens increased financial independence 1. Feminist explanations 1. Modernity and Individualisation

Question 39

# Divorce - increases What have been the three kinds of change in the law? ## Footnote Changes in the law

Answer 39

1. Equalising the grounds (the legal reasons) for divorce between the sexes 1. Widening the grounds for divorce 1. Making divorce cheaper

Question 40

# Divorce - increases What other solutions can cuples find for the problem of unhappy marriage? ## Footnote Changes in the law

Answer 40

- Desertion - Legal separation - 'Empty Shell'

Question 41

# Divorce - increase What is desertion? ## Footnote Alternatives to divorce

Answer 41

where one partner leaves the other but the couple remain legally married

Question 42

# Divorce - increases Desrcibe legal separation ## Footnote Alternatives to divorce

Answer 42

* where a court separates the financial and legal affairs of the couple * but where they remain married and are not free to re-marry

Question 43

# Divorce - increase What is an 'empty shell' marriage ## Footnote Alternatives to divorce

Answer 43

where the couple continue to live under the same roof but remain married in name only.

Question 44

# Divorce - increase Why have alternatives to divorce as a solution become less popular? ## Footnote Changes in the Law

Answer 44

divorce has become easier to obtain,

Question 45

# Divorce - increase ## Footnote Changes in the Law