FAMILIES & HOUSEHOLDS - DIVORCE

What is divorce defined as?

The legal termination of a marriage

What century was it very difficult for women to get divorced in Britain?

19th century

Why was divorce so difficult for women? (3/4)

• women were properties of men so had little power

• women could not get divorced without the man’s consent

• women were financially dependent on men

• divorce was frowned upon by the church

What are 3 changes in the law that have made divorce easier?

• equalizing the grounds - equal opportunities for divorce introduced in 1923

• widening the grounds for divorce

• irretrievable breakdown leading to divorce introduced in 1971

• making divorce cheaper - the introduction of legal aid lowered the cost of divorce introduce 1949

Why is it significant that prices were dropped in 1949?

1949 was after WW2

• after man returned from war - they may have changed as people

• women started to work - so were less financially dependent

• American soldiers came to Britain - so some women have affairs with them

What solutions are there for a failing marriage? (3)

• desertion - where one partner leave but the couple remain legally married

• legal separation - where a court separates the financially and legal affairs of the couple but where they remain married and not free to remarry

• "empty shell" marriage - where the couple continue to love under the same roof but remained married in name only

Is divorce more or less normalized in today's society?

More normalized - less stigma, less frowned upon

What does stigma mean?

Refers to the negative label, social disproved or shame attached to a person or relationship

Did churches accept divorce?

No - it had been stigmatized by churches

Who is a historical figure who disagreed with churches not accepting divorce?

Henry VIII - he created the Church of England so he could get divorced as he was catholic (under the Catholic Church you cannot remarry)

Did Julia Mitchell and Jack Goody say there has been an increase or decrease in the stigma attached to divorce since the 1960s?

Rapid decrease - divorce has become more socially accepted

What is a problem with divorce becoming so normalized?

Couples quickly resort to divorce as a way of solving their marital problems (without trying to solve them first)

What does secularisation mean?

The deceive in the influence of religion in society

What do many sociologists argue that religious institutions are loosing in terms of religion? + example of this

Loosing their influence and society is become more secular

• church attendance rates are continuing to decline

Do people still tend to care about the churches ideas on divorce?

Due to churches opposition to divorce, people are less influenced by religious teachings

Due to churches being scared they will loose members, what have they started to do? (In terms of divorce)

Changed their views - become more accepting of divorce, etc

Why do less people follow religion?

• too much science has been found

• people don’t like/want to feel controlled

• not passed through generations

• some political parties are associated with religion - so people don’t like this

Ronald Fletcher argues that people have higher what, when it comes to marriage?

Higher expectations - which then had led to higher divorce rates

What do higher expectations make couples?

Less tolerant of an unhappy marriage

In the past, individuals had less choice who to marry, why was this? What was the family seen as? +example of a play which does this

Unit of production (Talcott parsons - functionalist)

Marriage often occurred for economic reasons

An inspector calls - (Sheila, Gerald - combine fathers businesses)

In modern day, marriage is not seen as a binding contract, but what?

A relationships in which individuals seek personal fulfillment - so couples seek divorce if they do not find this personal fulfillment

Graham Allan and Graham Crow say that what is a justifiable reason for divorce?

The couple falls out of love/feelings of satisfaction and commitment

Some reasons for divorce nowadays?

• affairs

• children

• poor mental health

• falling out of love

• crossing personal boundaries

• different views (not wanting children)

• abuse

• families influence

Functionalists, such as Fletcher believe that marriage rates are what?

Rising

Does Fletcher believe that people tend to remarry?

Yes he argues that even if couples get divorced, they tend to remarry (they dont fall out of love with the idea of marriage but their current partner)

What do feminists argue is the main cause of marital conflict and divorce?

The oppression women within the family

Although functionalists offer an explanation for rising divorce rates, what do they fail to do?

Fail to explain why is it mainly women who seek divorce rather than men

What are some reasons women are more likely to seek divorce?

• an improvement in their economic position (no longer financially dependent on their husbands)

• women are in paid employment (can afford it)

• equal pay laws have helped to narrow the pay gap

• girls successes UK education is greater - achieve better paid jobs

• availability of welfare benefits

What is the quote that Allan and Crow state?

"Marriage is less embedded within the economic system"

• family is no longer a unit of production, spouses don’t financially depend on each other

Who are Ulrich Beck and Anthony Giddens?

Late modernists

What do they argue about the social norm of remaining with the same partner?

Traditional norms such as the duty to remain with the same partner for life, lose their hold over individuals

What does the individualization thesis theory mean?

Each individual becomes free to pursue his or her own self interest

What did Giddens call a relationship that seeker to satisfy each partners needs?

A pure relationship

Do pure relationships result in more or less divorces?

More divorces - people are looking for "perfection" and have high expectations

Which social class has the highest divorce rates? Why?

Lower income/working classes

• financial instability

• fewer access to therapy, marriage support