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Sociology > Family and Households - Changing Family Patterns > Flashcards

Family and Households - Changing Family Patterns Flashcards

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1
Q

What has happened to divorce rates over the past 60 years?

A

They have increased

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2
Q

What has happened to marriage rates in the past 60 years?

A

Overall, they have been declining

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3
Q

What are the explanations for the change in divorce rates?

A
  • Changes in the law
  • Changing attitudes
  • Secularisation
  • Rising expectations of marriage
  • Women’s increased financial independence
  • Modernity and individualisation
  • Feminism
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4
Q

How have law changes affected divorce?

A
  • They have made it more accessible and equal for both genders
  • More affordable
  • Widened the grounds for divorce
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5
Q

What act was passed in 1969?

A

The Divorce Law Reform Act (which abolished the need for a ‘guilty party’ in a divorce)

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6
Q

When did same-sex marriage become legal in the UK

A

2014

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7
Q

What is a desertion?

A

One partner leaves the other but the couple remains legally married

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8
Q

What is a legal separation?

A

A court separates the financial and legal affairs of the couple but they remain married and cannot re-marry

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9
Q

What is an ‘empty shell’ marriage?

A

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

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10
Q

How has a declining stigma around divorce impacted it?

A

It is seen as more socially acceptable so more people feel comfortable to do it

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11
Q

What does Laurie Essig suggest about middle class female divorcees?

A
  • People see their divorce as a form of failure and shame
  • They feel the need to apologise for being divorced
  • Some even reported being shunned by acquaintances
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12
Q

How has secularisation impacted divorce?

A

Religion institutions have less significance and power in society, causing people to make their own personal decisions

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13
Q

What does the functionalist Fletcher (1966) say about marriage?

A

Love nowadays is focused on romance and love, when in the past the key elements were financial security and a duty to the family. Nowadays, if romantic needs are not met, divorce is more likely.

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14
Q

How has women’s financial independence changed?

A
  • Women are more likely to be in paid work (72% in 2020)
  • Equal pay act and anti-discrimination laws in the workplace
  • Girls succeed more in education, leading to better paid jobs
  • Availability of welfare benefits
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15
Q

How has women’s financial independence impacted divorce?

A

They do not need to remain in a marriage for financial stability as they can generate their own income

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16
Q

What does Hochschild say about divorce?

A

The dual burden and triple shift supply a constant source of frustration for women, leading to them seeking divorce

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17
Q

What does Sigle-Rushton (2007) find about divorce?

A

Women who had a duel burden were more likely to be divorce than women who only did housework

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18
Q

What did radical feminist Bernard (1976) say about divorce?

A

Women are becoming more aware of the patriarchal system that oppresses women, which causes more divorces.

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19
Q

What do Giddens and Beck say about today’s society?

A

People are become more focused on their own success (individualisation) than their duty to a collective group, such as the family

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20
Q

How do The New Right view divorce?

A

It is undesirable as it undermines marriage and the nuclear family, as well as putting a burden on the state

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21
Q

How do Feminists view divorce?

A

It is desirable as it is proof of women breaking away from oppression

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22
Q

How do Postmodernists view divorce?

A

It shows that individuals have the freedom to choose to end a relationship when it no longer meets their needs

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23
Q

How do Functionalists view divorce?

A

It is not necessarily a threat to marriage as a social institution (many people remarry), rather it is the result of people’s higher expectations in relationships

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24
Q

How do Interactionalists view divorce?

A

They aim to understand what it means to the individual
David Morgan (1996) argues we cannot generalise the meaning of divorce as every interpretation is different

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25
How does Personal Life Perspective view divorce?
Accepts that divorce can cause problems, however it has become normalised and people can adapt to it
26
How have attitudes changed around marriage alternatives?
It has become more positive over time (70% of people in 1989 thought couples who wanted kids should get married, compared to 42% in 2012)
27
How does rising divorce rates impact marriage?
People are less likely to want to get married because they worry it will lead to divorce
28
Name 3 changes to marriage
1) Remarriages have increased 2) People get married later in life 3) More weddings in non-religious settings
29
How do Chester and Coast view cohabitation?
- Chester argues cohabitation is part of the marriage process - Coast (2006) found that 75% of cohabitating couples say they expect to marry each other
30
How does Andre Bejin (1985) view cohabitation?
He argues it is a conscious attempt among young people to create a more negotiated and equal relationship
31
What do Shelton and John (1993) say about cohabitating women?
Women who cohabit do less housework than married women
32
What percent of the adult population are in same-sex relationships?
5-7% as suggested by Stonewall
33
How does Weston (1992) see same-sex cohabitation?
It is like a 'quasi-marriage' and contrasts the 1970s gay lifestyle that largely rejected monogamy and conventions
34
What does Weeks (1999) say about chosen families?
They create security and stability
35
What do Allan and Crow about same-sex relationships?
Due to the absence of legal frameworks, same-sex couples negotiate their commitment and responsibilities more, making them more flexible but less stable
36
What is some evidence for the growth of one-person households?
- In 2013, almost 3 in 10 households were single-person - Pensioners make up 40% of those in single-person households - By 2033 it is predicted that 30% of the adult population will be single
37
What is LAT (Living Apart Together)?
Couples (or even married couples) living in separate homes
38
What did Duncan and Phillips find about LATs in their research?
- 1 in 10 adults were in LAT relationships - 20% of people surveyed said it was the ideal relationship
39
How many children born outside of wedlock have cohabiting parents?
Almost 50%
40
What percent of lone-parent families are headed by mothers?
90% lone mothers
41
How much more likely are lone-parent children to be in poverty?
Twice as likely to be in poverty
42
Why are there a lot of single mothers by circumstance?
The court system favours women to take custody
43
Why are lone-parent female families more likely to suffer from poverty?
The mother's employment options become limited as they have to focus on childcare, leading to a lack of income
44
What did Renvoize (1985) find about lone-parent mothers?
Professional lone-parent mothers were financially secure enough to choose to raise their children alone
45
What did Cashmore (1985) find about lone-parent mothers?
Some working-class mothers chose to be lone parents because of their lack of earning power, so they sought out welfare benefits from the state. A lot of these mothers had also experienced abuse so wished to remain alone.
46
What does Charles Murray (1984) say about the growth of lone-parent families?
- It is a direct result of the benefits offered by the state - It is a perverse incentive that rewards irresponsible behaviour - It creates a dependency culture
47
What are some criticisms of the view that lone-parents take advantage of the welfare system?
- A lack of affordable childcare keeps lone parents unemployed as they have to stay at home - Most lone parents are women so they earn less money, therefore they need the support - Some fathers fail to pay maintenance fees
48
Which ethnicity has the highest percent of married couples in the UK?
Asian and Asian British
49
Which ethnicity has the highest percent of lone parents in the UK?
Black and Black British
50
What are the suggested reasons for the amount of lone parent black families?
- It is the result of slavery and the separation of families making it a pattern - Black male unemployment and poverty makes them unable to provide for the family, leading to a breakdown of the family
51
What does Mirza argue about black lone-parent families?
They are not disorganised, the lone-female is a source of independence
52
What does Reynolds (2010) say about lone-parent statistics?
The statistics are misleading as these lone parents often have stable and supportive relationships which are not cohabiting
53
What family structure are most Asian families now?
Nuclear (in the past they were often extended to make settling in the UK easier after migration)
54
What does Willmott (1988) say about the extended family?
A 'dispersed extended family' exists where they are geographically separate but frequently in contact
55
What did Chamberlain (1999) find about Caribbean families in Britain?
- They continue to provide support to one another despite being dispersed - Multiple nuclear families with close and frequent contact
56
How has globalisation affected relationships?
Technology can be used to maintain social bonds
57
What is a 'beanpole' family? (Bell and Brannen)
- The family structure is long and thin - It contains grandparents, parents, children but doesn't extend to aunts, cousins, uncles, etc...
58
What did Charles find to support the idea of a 'beanpole' family?
They found a maintained high contact between mothers and daughters but a decline in sibling closeness
59
What are the possible reasons for a beanpole family?
Increased life expectancy and smaller family sizes
60
What is the general family obligation hierarchy?
Women are expected to offer help before men, especially when caring for children or the elderly
61
What do Finch and Mason say about family obligations?
There is a degree of give and take between family members that influences the amount of support given

Sociology (19 decks)

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