Marriage and divorce Flashcards
(30 cards)
When was the peak number of divorces
1993 at 165,000
What percentage of divorce applications are by women
60%, compared to only 37% in 1946
What couples are at a greater risk of divorce
Couples who marry young
Couples who have a child before marriage
Couples where both have married before.
What are the reasons for the increase in divorce
Changes in the law
Declining stigma
Secularisation
Rising expectations of marriage
Women’s financial independence
Feminist explanations
Modernity and individualisation
Changes in the law affecting divorce rates
Grounds equalised in 1923, sharp rise in divorce petitions by women.
Widening the grounds in 1971 doubled the divorce rate.
Legal aid in 1949 lowered the cost of divorce.
Declining stigma affecting divorce rates
Churches refuse to conduct divorces as they condemn it. Couples are more willing to resort to divorce as it is normalised.
Secularisation affecting divorce rates
Traditional opposition of divorce by churches has less impact on society.
Also softened views on divorce, perhaps because they fear losing large members of the public.
Rising expectations of marriage affecting divorce rates
Marriage was a form of production, but has now grown to be seen as a relationship for personal fulfilment.
While functionalism explains the rise in divorce rates, it does not explain why women apply more often than girls.
Women’s financial independence affecting divorce rates
Women are much more likely to have paid work.
The availability of welfare benefits to no longer need their husbands financially.
Modernity and individualisation affecting divorce rates
Traditional norms have lost their hold over individuals, (individualisation thesis).
Seek the ‘pure relationship’ that exists only to satisfy each other.
Feminist explanations affecting divorce rates
Women bear a dual burden and triple shift, creating a new source of conflicts in marriages.
New right view on high divorce rate
Undesirable as it undermines the traditional nuclear family and creates a growing underclass of welfare-dependent lone parents.
Functionalist view on high divorce rate
Not a threat to marriage, rate of re-marriage shows people’s continuing commitment to the idea of marriage.
Feminist view on high divorce rate
Desirable as it shows women breaking free from the oppression of a nuclear family.
Individualisation thesis and post modernist view on high divorce rate
Individuals showing their freedom, and as a major cause of family diversity.
Personal life perspective on high divorce rate
Divorce has been normalised and the family can adapt to it, isn’t a major social problem.
What are the trends in marriage
Decrease in marriages
Increase in re-marriages
Less likely to marry in church
Reasons for change in marriage rates
Changing attitudes to marriage
Secularisation-
Declining stigma attached to alternatives
Changes in the position of women
Fear of divorce
Changing attitudes to marriage affecting marriage rates
There is less pressure to marry and more freedom for individuals to be in the relationship that they want.
Secularisation affecting marriage rates
All major religious organisations are losing influence as less people worship through them.
Declining stigma attached to alternatives affecting marriage rates
Cohabitation, remaining single and having children outside of marriage is accepted, and therefore there is no need for marriage.
Changes in the position of women affecting marriage rates
Women have better educational and career prospects, meaning they are less economically dependent on men.
Fear of divorce affecting marriage rates
As divorce rates rise, people may fear having to divorce their partner, and not marry.
What is cohabitation
An unmarried couple in a sexual relationship living together.
