Changing Family Patterns Flashcards
What are the general patterns for marriage and divorce?
-decrease in rates of marriage
-increase in rates of divorce
This is because of an increase in feminism
How has feminism caused there to be less marriage and more divorce?
-women’s increased financial independence
-women’s increased responsibility
- women’s increase value at work
How has women’s increased financial independence increased divorce rates?
Women are now more willing to get divorced because they have less financial dependency on husbands and are freer to end marriage
72% of women working in 2020
Women can now support themselves in the event of divorce
Criticism of the idea that women’s financial independence had increased
Not a lot of women are financially independent and men typically end up managing money either way.
How has women’s increased responsibilities increased divorce rates according to Oakley?
Women complete the dual burden
Dual burden creates more conflict between couples
Therefore higher divorce rates than in the past
Criticism of Oakleys and duncombe and marsdens idea that women’s responsibilities are increased
Young and wilmott- we are moving to a symmetrical family, there is progress
Same sex couples will have different divisions of labour therefore not applicable to same sex couples
How has women’s increased responsibilities increased divorce rates according to duncombe and marsden?
Women complete the triple shift
This is worse in marriage as women also have to take care of their husbands
Men benefit from women taking on the triple shift so marriage stays patriarchal
Change in the private sphere has been limited and slow
How has women’s increased value at work increased divorce rates according to Hoschild?
The home compares unfavourably with work
At work women feel valued
At home men continue to resist housework
This creates frustration and makes marriage less stable
Less time to address problems
Therefore higher divorce rates than in the past
Criticism of Hoschilds idea that women’s value at work is increased
marxists- working class employees feel alienated and dont feel valued so arent happy at home or at work
young and willmott- women are valued at home, symmetrical family
What is Harts explanation for higher divorce rates and lower marriage rates?
The expectation of marriage is very high
Marriage has become more than just a legal or religious contract but an emotional commitment
Marriage is very different to the past as people were less likely to be dissatisfied as their expectations were lower
What do high expectations of marriages lead to according to Hart?
A) lower marriage rates- people less likely to commit, they believe there is always someone better
B) Higher divorce rates- there is more disappointment which leads to people leaving
Why is there increased conflict in marriages according to hart?
There have been changes in economy -> isolation of marriage couples from wider family -> incompatible that could’ve previously been tolerated have become unbearable
We have moved from pre modernity to modernity
Why is it easier to leave a relationship according to Hart?
Divorce laws
- legal aid for divorce cases since 1949
- divorce, dissolution and separation act 2020 (no fault divorce)
What is Smarts explanation for higher divorce rates and lower marriage rates?
Personal Life Perspective
- divorce has been normalised, it is simply another transition for people in the life course
- family life is able to adapt to divorce without falling apart
- there has been a rise in coparenting
Critique of Harts ideas about high expectations being the reason for rates of marriage and divorce changing
Critique of Smarts idea of normalisation of divorce
What is Giddens individualisation thesis?
We are free to pursue our own self interest rather than follow traditional norms
What is Giddens explanation for higher divorce rates and lower marriage rates?
individualisation thesis and confluent love means that commitment is less attractive which leads to lower marriage rates
idea of pure relationships and confluent love means that relationships are more fragile which leads to higher divorce rates
As divorce rises it reinforces the idea that marriage only exists for personal self fulfilment
Critique of Giddens and Gibsons beliefs for higher divorce rates and lower marriage rates?
chester
- the nuclear family has not disappeared its still desirable
- most divorces remarry (70%)
- Neo conventional family has become more popular which is the nuclear family but both spouses earn
What is Gibsons explanation for higher divorce rates and lower marriage rates?
Supports giddens
- in late modernity there is a free market culture of individualisation and choice
- creates an attitude of easily finding a new partner in their first choice isn’t living up to expectations
What does Giddens mean by pure relationship?
A relationships that exists only to satisfy partners needs, not about a sense of duty
What is confluent love according to Giddens?
Love that only lasts as long as it benefits the lover
What is secularisation?
Separation of state and religion or the decline of religion
Why do sociologists thing secularisation has happened
Secularisation has occurred within the modern world due to increase of scientific and rational thought
