Increase in divorce

Law

• Divorce has increased during the 1970s because of changes in the law

• The Divorce Act of 2022 - made it easier to divorce

Feminism

• Kurz - unless they become economically independant, their opportunities to divorce are restricted

• 66% of all divorces have been filed by women

Secularisation

• Wilson - sees a link between the decline in religion and divorce

• Less than half of modern marriages are religious - the Christian concept of marrying for life is disappearing

Changing norms and values

• Socially acceptable

• Couples are less likely to stay together to ‘keep up appearances’

• Rising divorce rate has led to normalisation of divorce