Divorce and marriage rates Flashcards
what is the post-modernist viewpoint?
increased divorce and declining marriage rates are due to the greater individual freedom in modern societies, particularly with the decline in the influence of religion.
who is the Post modernist evidence?
Giddens (1992)
What did Gidden’s argue?
First, people have greater individual freedom to end marital relationships that don’t provide personal fulfilment.
Second, people seek ‘pure relationships’ based on the satisfaction of needs, rather than commitment to duty, tradition, and their children.
Who is the post-modernist analysis?
Neale (1999)
what did Neale argue?
the declining influence of religion on society.
First, religious organisations, like churches and mosques, were key to promoting marriage as a cultural norm
The declining influence of religion in postmodernity means people are more likely to get a divorce.
Second, many religious organisations, like the Anglican Church, now permit divorce.
what did functionalist argue?
a transformation from a socio-economic function to a romantic function, causing an increase in divorce.
who is the functionalist evidence?
Ronald Fletcher (1966)
what did Fletcher argue?
marriage in pre-modern were organised to strengthen social ties between political groups.
who is the analysis?
Graham Allan and Graham Crow (2001)
what did Allan and Crow argue?
First, they argue marriage in current societies is caused by people bonding through deep emotional and physical intimacy.
Second, Allan and Crow (2001) argue that the absence of these sentiments is considered justification for terminating the relationship.
what is the feminist point ?
declining marriage and increased divorce rates are caused by the greater legal freedom of women and the increased burden of the ‘triple shift’.
who is the feminist evidence?
Henna Hill Kay (1987)
what did Kay argue?
legal changes are crucial to the increased in divorce and the linked decline in marriage rates.
e.g The 1969 Divorce Reform Act allowed divorces to increase from 50,000 per year in 1971 to 150,000 in 1981
who is the analysis for feminists?
Marxist-Feminists, like Archie Hochschild (1997)
