Families and Households - topic 2 changing family patterns: divorce

Question 1

What are the three solutions to an unhappy marriage?

Answer 1

Divorce
Separation
‘Empty-shell’ marriages

Question 2

What is divorce?

Answer 2

the legal termination of a marriage

Question 3

What is separation?

Answer 3

the physical separation between two spouses.

Question 4

What is an empty shell marriage?

Answer 4

the spouses remain living together although their marriage exists in name only.

Question 5

How many divorces per hour in 2012?

Answer 5

In 2012, there were 13 divorces an hour in England and Wales

Question 6

How many divorces in 2012 because of adultery?

Answer 6

In 2012, 1 in 7 divorces were granted because of adultery

Question 7

In 2012 who initiated the majority of divorces?

Answer 7

In 2012, the majority of divorces were initiated by the wife

Question 8

When are divorces most likely to occur?

Answer 8

Divorces were most likely to occur between the 4th and 8th wedding anniversary

Question 9

Percentage of divorce?

Answer 9

It is expected that 42% of marriages will end in divorce

Question 10

Number of divorces 2012 vs 1961?

Answer 10

In 2012 the number of divorces stood at 118,000, about six times higher than in 1961.

Question 11

Most notable change in divorce law?

Answer 11

Divorce Law Reform Act (1969) which came into effect in 1971, and was the main cause for a significant increase in divorces

Because it allowed marriage to end based on ‘irretrievable breakdown’.

Question 12

How has the process of divorce changed?

Answer 12

Cheaper and easier to obtain now

Question 13

Mitchell and Goody: What do they argue?

Answer 13

Mitchell and Goody argue there is less stigma attached to divorce.

In other words, getting divorced is more socially acceptable and more people are willing to resort to it as a solution to end marital problems.

Divorce has become less ‘shameful’, but a normal response to take when a marital problems become difficult to fix.

Question 14

What is secularisation?

Answer 14

Secularisation refers to the declining influence of religion within society.

Question 15

What was the major religion in the Uk in the early 20th century?

Answer 15

Christianity

Question 16

Why did religion lose authority?

Answer 16

However, as science started to dominate, religion started to lose its authority and started to become a personal choice, rather than a social obligation.

Question 17

Secularisation: Goode (1971) and Gibson (1994): What do they argue?

Answer 17

Marriage has become less of a sacred, spiritual union and more of a personal and practical commitment which can be abandoned if it fails.

The developments of technology have led people to believe in ‘scientific fact’ not religious texts which can be difficult to prove.

Question 18

Rising expectations of marriage: Fletcher: What did they argue?

Answer 18

Fletcher believes rising expectations of marriage is to blame for the rising divorce rates.
People are marrying based on the idea of ‘romantic love’ rather than for economic reasons and family duty, so therefore would less likely to be dissatisfied by the absence of love.

Question 19

Women’s increased financial independence: What do Allen and Crow argue?

Answer 19

“marriage is less embedded within the economic system” now

because anti-discrimination laws have helped narrow the pay gap,

and girls’ greater success in education means higher chances of better paid jobs.

Question 20

Individualisation thesis:Beck-Gernscheim (2002) : How do they describe individualisation?

Answer 20

a process whereby the traditional rules governing people’s personal relationships have weakened, and become more fluid, unclear and uncertain.

Question 21

Individualisation and the impact on divorce: Beck 1992 said what?

Answer 21

divorce is increasing because traditional norms have lost their hold over individuals.

People are pursuing their own interests rather than stay with their partner out of duty.

Question 22

Individualisation and the impact on divorce: Giddens (1993): How have ideas of love changed?

Answer 22

this changing landscape of love as a move away from what he calls ‘romantic love’, in which people fell in love and instead towards something called ‘confluent love’

Question 23

Individualisation and the impact on divorce: Giddens(1993) What characterises romantic relationships?

Answer 23

Intimate relationships are characterised by emotional intimacy but the love is only maintained ‘until further notice’, on the condition that both partners find mutually fulfilling.

Question 24

Individualisation and the impact on divorce: Bauman (2003): What do they argue?

Answer 24

In this world of growing individualisation, uncertainty and constant change, kinship networks are frail and human bonds are weak, and people are constantly searching for security.

Question 25

Individualisation and the impact on divorce: Beck-Gernscheim (2002) suggests the underlying causes of growing individualisation lie in what?

Answer 25

modern medicine, such as contraception and artificial insemination, which enable sexuality and reproduction to be separated from each other.

Question 26

Individualisation and the impact on divorce: Fletcher (1966): What do the increased rates of divorce reflect about marriage?

Answer 26

A higher divorce rate reflects a higher value placed on marriage. Couples are no longer prepared to put up with unhappy, empty-shell marriages or to take their relationships for granted. People want more from their marriage than companionship.

The fact that a large proportion of divorcees remarry shows that they are not rejecting the institution of marriage but simply expecting more from a relationship. They are willing to go through a number of partners to achieve these goals.

Question 27

Feminist explanations of divorce: Sigle-Rushton: What do they argue?

Answer 27

Sigle-Rushton argued working mothers are more likely to divorce than unemployed mothers.

Question 28

Feminist explanations of divorce: Hochschild: What do they argue?

Answer 28

Hochschild argues work has given women a sense of value, whilst men’s resistance to chores has led to frustration which destabilises marriage

Question 29

Feminist explanations of divorce: Thornes and Collard (1979) : What do they argue?

Answer 29

In 2012, 65% of divorce petitions were initiated by wives. Thornes and Collard (1979) argued that this trend supports the view that women expect far more from marriage than men and, in particular, that they value friendship in marriage and emotional gratification more than men do.

Question 30

Feminist explanations of divorce: Support of feminist view?

Answer 30

For example, in 2012, 54% of women-initiated divorces were on the grounds of the husband’s unreasonable behaviour, which supports this feminist perspective.

Question 31

Feminist explanations of divorce:

Question 32

Feminist explanations of divorce: