Changing Family Patterns

Rate of Marriage

Marriage rates have declined

Reasons for declined marriage rates

• Legal changes - divorce has become easier to access; equalising the grounds between both genders; widening the grounds (eg. irretrievable breakdown).​

• Less stigma - divorce has become more common and widely accepted.​

• Secularisation - decline in religious influence on society.

• Women’s financial independence - more women are now in paid employment, and lone parent welfare benefits are available. Women are less economically dependent on a man, and can afford divorce.

What does fletcher argue for the reason of decrease of marriage rate

• Higher expectations of marriage - the rising expectation of marriage based upon unrealistic scenarios shown in movies has led to the dissatisfaction amongst many couples (Fletcher).

How does partnership affect marriage rate

• More people are living together without being married (secularisation, stigma and cost)

• Increase in same-sex partnerships (secularisation and stigma)

• More people living alone (life expectancy and stigma)

This decreases marriage rate

Cohabitation rate

Cohabitation rate has increased

Marriage Act (1836, 2013) impact on family structure

• Legalised civil & same-sex marriage → More diverse family structures.

Divorce Reform Act (1969) impact on marriage

• Made divorce easier → Fewer lifelong marriages.

Divorce rate

• Divorce rates increased sharply after the 1969 Divorce Reform Act but stabilised.

Divorce Reform Act (1969) impact on divorce

• Allowed divorce for irretrievable breakdown → Divorce rates increased.

Family Law Act (1996) impact on divorce

• Introduced mediation before divorce → Slight decline in divorce rates.