Marriage and Divorce & Family Diversity

Statistics and Trends:

The number of marriages and divorce has decreased since 1930. The number of divorces has increased since 1930.

The legal aid and advice act 1949

This provided financial help to those who were unable to meet the cost of divorce

History of Divorce Legislation:

• The divorce reform act- Made it impossible to divorce someone because of irretrievable breakdown- rather than matrimonial offences.

• The matrimonial and family proceedings act- Reduced the time limit on divorce from a minimum of three years of marriage to one.

Reasons for the changing patterns of marriage:

High expectations of marriage:

• People are waiting longer to make sure that the partner they are with us suitable, so they do not rush into this decision.

• Spending longer to get to know their partner.

Growing Secularisation:

• Less people see cohabiting as wrong.

• Less belief in religion means less people feel they should marry.

Growing divorce rates:

• Fatalistic attitudes- Puts people off getting married.

• 1 in 2 marriages end in divorce

Changing role of women:

• Don’t want to play housewife anymore

• Won’t settle for mediocre relationships.

• Not financially dependent on men.

• Feminists believe marriage is a patriarchal institution.

Evidence for the decline in marriage:

• Single parent households increased by 500,000 because of more divorce and a rise in those over 65 living alone.

• Two of the biggest increases in households have been single and lone parent households.

• Cohabitation has doubled from 1966 to 2012

The new right perspective:

Children brought up in a married nuclear family will be more rounded members of society due to the presence of both gender role models. Married nuclear families provide a better form of discipline for their children. Married couples are able to financially support their children better.

Functionalism perspective:

Marriage is the best foundation for the primary socialisation of children. Marriage relationship is a relief from the strain of everyday life, resulting in a harmonious society. The family provides a relaxing environment for the male worker to immerse himself in after a hard day at work.

Marxist Perspective:

The monogamous nuclear family is essential because of the inheritance of private property. The main function of the married nuclear family is to distract by working class from the fact they are exploited by capitalism. Married nuclear families produce children who become the workforce. Marriage benefits the bourgeoisie, socialising children to be obedient and passive.

Feminist Perspective:

Men use marriage as an outlet for violence. Women are exploited and are expected to carry out domestic chores. Marriage benefits men more than it does women.

Why is cohabiting increasing?

• Shelton and John- found that it was a rational choice for women to cohabit as cohabiting women were more equal in domestic labour i.e. less exposed to dual burden

• Chester: Cohabiting couples are on a “try before you buy trial”. 75% of cohabiting couples plan to marry.

• Women have greater demands from marriage and no longer feel a sense of shame from being ‘left on the shelf’, they will postpone marriage until a suitable partner can be found.

Why have divorce rates started to decline?

• Cohabiting. When people do marry, they have had a trial run first so they are more likely to stay together.

• People marry later so are settled in their lives and have done everything they want to do as a single person.

• People cant afford to get divorce (2013 legal aid cut)

• More equality between men and women has created happier relationships so people are less likely to divorce.

Family Diversity:

• Organisational: Different family roles (e.g. dual vs single earner)

• Cultural: Differences due to ethnicity or religion.

• Class: Middle vs working-class family structures

• Life stage: structures vary by age

• Generational: Attitudes differ across generations

Causes of family diversity:

Changing pattern- Divorce- more single parent and reconstituted families; relationship breakdown more common when cohabiting.

Post modernisation- Diversity is a reflection of a more diverse society

Economic factors- Increasing wealth means more people can live alone, but those who cant afford this have multi-generational families.

Changing roles- women having careers means they are having less children- single parent of bean pole households.

Policies- 1969 divorce act, 1972 equal pay act and welfare benefits have led to a underclass and more teenage pregnancy.

Late modernism- It is not due to freedom of choice but forcing into situations via structural changes making life more uncertain.