Changing Patterns of Family Life - Lone Person Households

How many lone parent households were there in 2015?

3 million out of 18 million households (16.7%)

How many lone parent households were there in 1996?

2.4 million out of 16.5 million households

How big of an increase has there been of lone parent families in the last 20 years?

A slight increase?

What are the reasons for the rise in lone-parent families?

• The changing position of women

• Changing attitudes to relationships

• Less stigma attached to lone parenting

• State support for parents

Why is the changing position for women a reason for the rise in lone-parent families?

• Women petition for two-thirds of divorces in the UK demonstrating a change in attitudes of women towards marriage

• Women have become financially independent and increasingly career-focused which has improved the confidence of women to seek out what they want from life

• Women are less likely to tolerate a partner that does not fulfil their individual needs than in previous generations

Why is the changing attitudes to relationships a reason for the rise in lone-parent families?

• For both men and women, the expectations of relationships have changed

• Giddens- confluent love

• Bauman- liquid love

• Greater focus on individualism within relationships and this has meant staying together for children is less important

Why is less stigma attached to lone parenting a reason for the rise in lone-parent families?

• With divorce becoming more commonplace attitudes toward lone parenting have changed

• People choose to bring up their children alone- changing the nature of relationships

• The rise of feminism has seen divorce as a form of empowerment for women- lone parents celebrated for being two lone parents at the same time

• Celebrity lifestyle- high profile lone parents and relationship changes

Why is state support for parents a reason for the rise in lone-parent families?

• New Right are critical of welfare dependency and have cut support for lone parents

• However, initiatives such as the Working Tax Credit and funding for 30 hours of free childcare have supported lone parents in work

• The creation of Child Support Agency had a mixed impact on lone parent support

What are the impacts of an increase in lone parent families on society?

• New Right- lack of adequate socialisation

• Increase in reconstituted families and lone-person households

• Increase in female role models for girls

• Growth of co-parenting and amicable relations between former partners

• Potential for conflict over access, new relationships and financial arrangements