Changing family patterns

Define divorce

The legal termination of a marriage

What is the major cause of changing family patterns and family diversity in the UK?

Divorce

What was pattern of popularity of divorce?

Since the 1960’s there has been a great increase in the number of divorces in the UK. research shows that between 1961 and 1969, the number of divorces doubled

Reasons for increases in divorce

1. Changes in law

2. Declining in stigma

3. Secularisation 

4. Raising expectations of marriage

5. Womens increased financial independence

6. Feminist explanations

7. Modernity and individualisation

When did divorce rates fall and why?

2012, because people are choosing to cohabitate before marriage, to ‘trial’ it. 

How has changes in laws increased divorce rates?

• Equalising the grounds for divorce in 1923 saw a rise in women filing for divorce petitions

• Widening grounds for divorce in 1971 made divorce easier to obtain and divorce doubled overnight!

• Making divorce cheaper

& other solutions to unhappy marriages like:

• Desertion - where one partner leaves the other by they remain legally marriage

• Legal separation - where a court separates the financial and legal affairs of the couple but they remain married - not allowed to re-marry

• ‘Empty -shell marriage’ - where the couple continue to live together but there is ‘no love’

AO3 on changes on law

Fails to explain reasons why people choose to take advantage of this freedom from marriage. So we must consider other reasons

How has decline in stigma & changing attitudes increased divorce rates?

Stigmatised as society was more religious. Churches condemned divorce often refused to carry out divorces.

• However, Mitchell and Goody (1972) notes that since the 1960’s, there has been a rapid decline in the stigma attached to divorce - which explains why divorce has increased. 

It is now more socially acceptable for people to divorce. If a couple gets a divorce, it is no longer seen as shameful but rather a misfortune.

How has decline in secularisation (decline in religion) increased divorce rates?

• Sociologists: religious institutions are losing their influence in society and therefore is becoming more secular

• Marriage was previously considered to be a sacred union between two people. Biblical scripture - ‘what God unites, no man can separate’ Matthew 19:6.

• People are no longer influenced by religion when making personal decisions.

How has rising expectations increased divorce rates?

Fletcher (1966): strongest explanation for increase in divorce is a rise in expectations - as couples are less willing to tolerate unhappy marriages

Beck: ‘Risk society’ —> more caution now so risk of divorce decreases

• This is strongly linked to the ideology of romantic love - which is the belief that marriage is solely based on love. Therefore, if the couple ‘falls out of love’ then there is no need to continue the marriage

Previously people were married for economic reasons or out of duty to the family - marriage was seen as a contract. Nowadays marriage is seen as a relationship whereby individuals seek personal fulfillment.

Contemporary knowledge is ‘icks’

AO3 for rising expectations

• functionalists argue despite an increase in divorce rates, marriage is still popular in society. Many people remarry after divorce

• Feminists criticise: argue that oppression is the main cause of divorce. Women mainly file for divorce, why is this?

How has women’s financial independence increased divorce rates?

Greater financial independence—> greater freedom to end a marriage.

• Women are more likely to be in paid work today. 53% worked in 1971 to 67% in 2013.

• Changes in law - Equal Pay Act 1970 have ensured that people are not discriminated against.

• Girls often outperform boys in education meaning that they are able to get better paid jobs in the future

• State benefits mean that women do not need to financially rely on their husbands

Allan and Crow (2001) argues that ‘marriage is less embedded in the economic system’

Women are financially independent and no longer have to tolerate conflict, or a lack of absence in marriage.

How has the feminist explanation increased divorce rates?

• Hoschild (1997) argues that a reason why divorce rates have increased is because of a build up of frustration in the home as men fail to carry out domestic responsibilities.

• Sigle-Rushton (2007) argues that mothers who carry out both paid and domestic work are more likely to divorce than non-working mothers. However Cooke and Gash (2010) found that there was no evidence linking working women to divorce because it is the accepted norm.

How has modernity increased divorce rates?

Beck and Giddens (1992) argues that in modern society, the norm to remain with the same partner for life, loses meaning. 

• People are free to things of their own self-interest: this is the individualisation thesis

• Giddens: in modern society, people seek a ‘pure relationship’ - which is a relationship that exists solely to satisfy each others needs. When this need is not met—> divorce.