Topic 5 - Changing Family Patterns

Wilson (1966) - increase in divorce

Changing Social Values

Reduction of stigma surrounding divorce is a result of secularisation

Fletcher (1966) - increase in divorce

Changing Expectations

People have higher expectations of marriage now and people divorce due to insufficient partners

Crow (2011) - increase in divorce

Changing Expectations

Intrinsic satisfaction is now seen as the cornerstone of marriage

Hochschild (1997) - increase in divorce

Feminist Explanation: Patriarchal Family

For many women, the home compares unfavourably with work

Bernard (1982) - increase in divorce

Evaluation of the Feminist Explanation

Women are becoming more conscious of patriarchal oppression

Afifi (2012) - increase in divorce

Impact of Divorce

• Standard of living decreases

• Some people get better as they are removed from conflict

• Low self-esteem

• Less relationship with one parent

Rogers and Pryor (1998) - increase in divorce

Impact of Divorce on Children

Divorce is only one factor of many in causing problems for children

Bernardes (1997) - increase in divorce

Impact of Divorce on Children

Divorce is less damaging than a negative marriage

Stonewall (2012) - diversity in partnership types

5-7% of the UK population in 2012 had same-sex relationships

Weston (1992) - diversity in partnership types

Same-sex cohabitations are ‘quasi marriages’ and many gay couples cohabit as stable partners

British Social Attitudes Survey (2013) - diversity in partnership types

Living Apart Together (LATs)

1 in 10 couples are LATs

Duncan and Phillips (2010) - diversity in partnership types

Living Apart Together (LATs)

Choice and constraint play a part in whether couples live together

Renvoize (1985) - changes to families with children

Lone Parent Families

Professional women are able to support for children themselves because of more women in work, the rise of feminism and greater opportunities for women

Murray (1984) - changes to families with children

Lone Parent Families - New Right Perspective

Blames the overly generous welfare state for the rise in lone parents as this creates perverse incentives and leads to a dependency culture

Mirza (1997) - ethnic differences

High rates of black lone parents aren’t due to family disorganisation due to slavery or high rates of unemployment, but rather the strong value that black women place on independence

Ballard (1982) - ethnic differences

Extended families are an important source of people migrating to new countries