Topic 2 - Changing Family Patterns Flashcards
Changing patterns in divorce
-Since the 1960s there has been a great ^ in the number of divorces in the UK.
-In recent years numbers have somewhat fallen but still far higher than the 1960s.
-One reason for the fall in the no. of divorces since the 1990s is that fewer people are marrying.
-Common reasons for divorce are unreasonable behaviour from husbands.
-Young couples, couples who have children before marriage + those where they were married before are couples most likely to divorce.
-About 65% of petitions for divorce now come from women, sharp contrast to the situation in the past.
What are the 7 explanations for the increase in divorce?
1.) Changes in the law
2.) Declining stigma + changing attitudes
3.) Secularisation
4.) Rising expectations of marriage
5.) Women’s increased financial independence
6.) Feminist explanations
7.) Modernity + individualisation
EXPLANATIONS FOR ^ IN DIVORCE 1.) Changes in the law
-Making the divorce cheaper (1949)
-Widening the grounds for divorce (1971)
-Equalising the grounds for divorce between sexes (1923)
-There we’re many other ways of solving an unhappy marriage including: -Desertion, where one partner leaves the other but the couple remain legally married.
-Legal separation, where a court separates the financial + legal affairs of the couple.
-‘Empty Shell’ marriage, where the couple lives under the same roof, but only married in name.
EXPLANATIONS FOR ^ IN DIVORCE 2.) Declining stigma and changing attitudes
-The church tended to stigmatise divorcees + often refused to conduct marriage services involving divorcees.
-Juliet Mitchell and Jack Goody (1997)
-As stigma declines, couples become more willing to resort to divorce.
-The fact that divorce is now more common begins to ‘normalise’ it.
EXPLANATIONS FOR ^ IN DIVORCE 3.) Secularisation
-Decline in the influence of religion in society.
-Society is becoming more secular, e.g. church attendance rates continue to decline.
-Secularisation, has led to the traditional opposition of the churches to divorce carries less weight in society.
-Many churches have begun to soften their views on divorce + divorcees. This may be due to fears of losing credibility.
EXPLANATIONS FOR ^ IN DIVORCE 4.) Rising expectations of marriage
-Ronald Fletcher (1966) argues that higher expectations people place on marriage today are a major cause of rising divorce rates.
-Romantic love: the belief that marriage should be based solely on love.
-If love dies, there is every reason to divorce + find soulmate.
-In the past individuals often had little choice in who they married, meaning expectations were lower.
-Graham Cow (2001)
-Although divorcees became u happy with their partner, they often remarry showing they do not reject marriage (positive light) - functionalist.
EXPLANATIONS FOR ^ IN DIVORCE 5.) Women’s increase financial independence
-Improvement in women’s economic position has increased willingness to seek divorce.
-The proportion of women working rose from 53% in 1971 to 67% in 2013.
-Equal pay + anti-discrimination laws have helped to narrow the pay gap.
-Greater success in education = better paid jobs.
-Welfare benefits are more attainable, meaning women won’t tell on men.
-Allan + Crow
EXPLANATIONS FOR ^ IN DIVORCE 6.) Feminist explanations
-Feminists argue women today bear a dual burden (paid work + domestic labour), creating a new source of conflict between husbands + wives = ^ divorce rate.
-Marriage remains patriarchal, with men benefiting from their wives ‘triple shifts’ (paid, domestic + emotional work).
-Arlie Hochschild (1997) argue that for many women, the home compares unfavourably with work.
-Wendy Sigle-Rushton (ERSC 2007); mother’s who have a dual burden are more likely to divorce.
-Cooke + Gash (2010 - disagree
-Jessie Bernard (1976); women are becoming more confident about rejecting patriarchal oppression.
EXPLANATIONS FOR ^ IN DIVORCE 7.) Modernity/Postmodernity and individualisation
-Ulrich Beck (1992) + Anthony Giddens (1992) argue in modern society, trad norms lose their hood over individuals.
-Each individual is free to pursue his or her own self-interest (individualisation thesis).
-Relationships become fragile due to the desire of a ‘pure relationship’
-^ divorce rate ‘normalises it’
-Women now expected to pursue their career ambitions = conflicts of interest.
-Modernity encourages people to adopt a neo-liberal, consumerist society.
Changing marriage rates…
-Fewer people are marrying: marriage rates are at it’s lowest since the 1920s.
-Marriage rates for opposite-sex couples in 2015 were lowest on record.
EXPLANATIONS FOR CHANGING PATTERNS OF MARRIAGE 1.) Changing attitudes to marriage
-Less pressure to marry + is a weakened norm.
-Individuals can choose what type of relationship they want.
-A widespread belief that the quality of a couple’s relationship is more important than it’s legal status.
EXPLANATIONS FOR CHANGING PATTERNS OF MARRIAGE 2.) Secularisation
-A decline of religious thinking + practice in society.
-The churches influence decreases, therefore people are more likely to choose not to marry.
-3% of young people with no religion were married, as against up to 17% of those with a religion.
EXPLANATIONS FOR CHANGING PATTERNS OF MARRIAGE 3.) Declining stigma attached to marriage alternatives
-Cohabitation, remaining single, and having children outside marriage are all now widely regarded as acceptable.
-Pregnancy no longer leads to a ‘shotgun wedding’.
-In 1989, 70% believed that couples who want children should get married but by 2012 only 42% thought so.
EXPLANATIONS FOR CHANGING PATTERNS OF MARRIAGE 4.) Changes in the position of women
-Women are less economically dependent on men.
-Giving greater freedom not to marry.
-The feminist view that marriage is an oppressive patriarchal institution may also dissuade some women from marrying.
EXPLANATIONS FOR CHANGING PATTERNS OF MARRIAGE 5.) Fear of divorce
-With the rising divorce rate, some may be put off marrying because they see the ^ likelihood of marriage ending in divorce.
Cohabitation
-Involves an unmarried couple in a sexual relationship.
-While the number of marriages is falling cohabitation is rising.
-3.5 million cohabiting couples in 2020.
Why has there been an increase in cohabitation?
-Decline in stigma attaches to sex outside marriage.
-In 1989, only 44% of people agreed that ‘premarital sex is not wrong at all’ but 65% took this view by 2012.
-The young are more likely to accept cohabitation.
-Increased career opportunities for women may mean they have less need for the financial security of marriage + are freer to opt for cohabitation.
-Secularisation: younger people with no religion are more likely to cohabit.
-For many cohabitation is a step on the way to getting married (Robert Chester)
-It could be considered as a trial marriage so that couples are sure they are right for each other.
-They may marry after children or be awaiting divorce.
What would sociologists say about the effects of cohabitation on society?
-Argue that cohabitation is positive as it allows individuals to find true love = happier society.
-On the other hand, it could be argued as a negative as it decreases the chances of children growing up in mentally + economically stable households.
Same sex relationships
-1967 homosexuality made legal for over 21s
-2002 same sex couples could adopt
-2004 civil partnership Act gave same sex couples same legal rights as married couples
-2014 same sex couples could msrry
Why has there been a change in same sex relationships?
-Stonewall (2012): 5-7% of the adult pop. today have same-sex relationships.
-It is impossible to judge whether this represents an ^ because in the past, stigma + laws mean’t such relationships were hidden.
-Jeffery Weeks (1999) argues that ^ social acceptance may explain a trend towards same-sex cohabitation + stable relationships that resemble those found among heterosexuals.
-Kath Weston (1992) describes same-sex cohabitation as ‘quasi marriage’ + notes that many gay couples are now deciding to cohabit as stable partners, contrasting gay relations in the 1970s.
-Gay lifestyle during the 1970s was rejecting monogamy + family life in favour of casual relationship.
What would sociologists say about the effects of same sex relationships on society?
-Allan + Crow argue that because of the absence of such framework until recently, same sex partners have had to negotiate their commitment + responsibilities more than heterosexual couples.
-This could lead to positive effects, e.g. flexibility but also negative effects such as instability.
-Adopted children in same-sex couples won’t have either a male or female role model = inadequate socialisation.
Why has there been an increase in One person households?
-The ^ in separation + divorce has created more one-person households. Especially among men under 65.
-Following divorce, any children are more likely to live with their mother; father is more likely to leave the family home.
-Decline in the numbers marrying, + the trend towards marrying later, also mean more people are remaining single.
-The proportion of adults who are single has risen by half since 1971. Many are living alone.
-It is possible that a growing number are opting for ‘creative single-hood’ - the deliberate choice to live alone.
-Some are alone due to few partners available in their age group (older widows).
What would sociologists say about the effects of one person households on society?
-Many argue that is cases such as (LAT) one person households could keep individuals in the right frame of mind.
-However, living alone may become boring + lead to mental health issues.
Living apart together (LATs)
-Levin (2004) has identified a LAT relationship; where individuals are in long-term committed, intimate relationships, define themselves as a couple yet do not share a common home.
-The ^ number of LAT relationships reflects the growing ways in which the concept of ‘family’ are increasingly challenged.
