Parents and children

What have been the changes in childbirth patterns

47% of all children born outside marriage, but nearly all of these children belong to cohabitating couples

More women are remaining childless, but if they do have children they will typically have them at a later age and have few of them

Why have births outside of marriage increased

Reflects the simultaneous decline in stigma and rise of cohabitation rates

Women have more options than just motherhood, with many seeking to establish a career first

How many lone families are in the UK

In 2022, 15% of all families were headed by lone parents, 84% of these headed by the lone mother

What are two pieces of statistical evidence about the lone family

Children from lone parent families are twice as likely to be in poverty

Pre 90’s: Most single mothers were divorced mothers who had children in marriage

Post 90’s: Most single mothers were women who never married

Why do lone parent households tend to be headed by women

• Widespread belief women play an expressive role

• Divorce courts normally rule for mother to have children

  • Men may be less willing to give up work

Why have rates of lone parent families increased

Increased divorce rate + declining stigma around births out of marriage

What did Cashmore and Renoize argue about being single by choice

Renoize: Working professional mother had financial means to support her baby

Cashmore: W/c women w a lower earning power would stay on benefits due to abuse they experienced

Why does Murray believe the welfare state increased rates of single motherhood

It created a perverse incentive, rewarding reckless behaviour of pre-marital sex and creating a dependency culture on benefits for these people.

How do sociologists criticise Murrays view on welfare

Lack of affordabl childcare can prevent lone parents from working, with average childcare costs £1,100 a month.

Inadequate welfare benefits enable benefit collectors to go into poverty

Fathers are failing to make money to support split up mothers

What is an alternative word for step families

Reconstituted

How many step families are there in Britain

An estimated 1/3

What are step families at greater risk of

Poverty

What did Allan and Crow find as a potential issue in reconstituted families

Divided loyalties and issues such as contact with non-resident parent

What are reasons for the patterns of behaviour shown in step families

Lack of clear social norms about how individuals should behave creates tension

Greater risk of poverty due to financial support of other partners ex partner