marriage and children Flashcards
(44 cards)
Mitchell and Goody (1997)
since the 1960’s there has been a DECLINING STIGMA attached to DIVORCE
why has there been a declining stigma attached to divorce?
- high profile divorces
- church less influential (secularisation - society becoming less religious)
- changes in the position of women ( less financially dependent on their husbands)
who is most likely to get divorced?
- those who marry young (older=settle)
- those who have children before marriage
- people who have been married before
changes in law , evaluation
it is still expensive
rising expectations of marriage , evaluation
patronising to people , many know marriage isn’t perfect
declining stigma , evaluation
stigma still exists
secularisation , evaluation
religion actually increasing globally
changing positions of women , evaluation
women still not equal , not all want the same in life
divorce
legal termination of marriage
divorce rates : 1971—–>
1991—->
2015—>
1971—–> 74,000
1991—-> 158,000
2015—> 101,000 (down as there was less marriages in the first place)
Chandler (2005)
approx 40% of todays marriages END in DIVORCE
7/10 APPLICATIONS for DIVORCE now come from women
in moderate societies divorce has…
risen steeply
marriage rates:1971—–>
1991—->
2015—>
1971—–> 459,000
1991—-> 350,000
2015—> 239,000
causes for rise in divorce rates
- rise in women’s rights
- no longer taboo and more accepted
- less religious
causes for rise in divorce rates , changes in law
divorce has become:
- equal
- easier
- cheaper
Fletcher (1996)
argues we place too high expectations on our marriages , which is why so many of them fail
before 1857:
divorce DIDN’T EXIST , special act of parliament was the only way you could get one
1857:
men able to divorce their wives (if unfaithful) and very expensive
1923:
women given the same rights as (1857) men
1969:
‘DIVORCE LAW REFORM ACT’ made IRRETRIEVABLE BREAKDOWN of marriage ACCEPTABLE as the sole grounds for divorce , but only after 2YRS of being SEPARATED
divorce law reform act
made irretrievable breakdown acceptable as the sole ground for divorce , but only after 2 years of being separated
1996
’ FAMILY LAW ACT’ allows divorce by AGREEMENT after a ‘period of reflection’
rising expectations since the 1950’s
- 1950’s , not much expected from marriage
- little choice over who they married
- location , work , money important factors
- romance was a ‘bonus’ not an expectation
why is there a higher age of marriage now
age of marriage increasing because people spend more time in education and establishing a career , many now cohabit before marrying
