Divorce

Allan and Crow

Changes in women’s position

Argue that ‘marriage is less embedded within the economic system’ than it used to be. Women are now less financially dependent on their husbands, and are more willing to seek divorce when feeling the absence of love.

Beck and Beck

Individualism

Relationships have become unstable because of ‘pure’ relationships due to the natural clash of interests between the selflessness required by marriage and the selfishness encouraged by individualism.

Fletcher

High expectations of marriage

Argued that couples expect and demand more in their relationships today than their parents or grandparents may have settled for. This encourages people to divorce if their expectations are not met.

Hochschild

Rejection of patriarchal oppression

Argues that men’s continued resistance to do the housework is a source of frustration. If both partners work, there is less time for emotion work, which could contribute to a higher divorce rate.

Gibson

Secularisation

Argues secularisation has resulted in marriage becoming less of a sacred, spiritual union and more of a personal and practical commitment which can be abandoned if it fails. There is also less stigma attached to divorce due to a decline of religion in society.

Smart

Attributes the rises in divorce to a combination of changes in divorce legislation, greater economic dependence for women and divorce becoming less stigmatised. This may increase family diversity.

Although, divorce may have a strong financial impact on women and create difficulties for children.