Marriage & Cohabitation: Changing Family Plan

What has happened to marriage rates in the UK since the 1970s?

declined significantly

How has the age of first marriage changed in the UK?

• people are marrying later

• the average age increased by around 7 years between 1971 and 2012

• by 2018 the average age was 35.8 for women and 38.1 for men

What is serial monogamy?

the pattern where individuals have several partners over a lifetime but only one spouse at a time, common in modern societies with higher divorce rates

What trend has occurred with remarriage in the UK?

• increased proportionally

• around 1/4 of marriages involve at least one previously married partner

What has happened to religious marriage ceremonies in the UK?

• declined

• approx. 60% of weddings were religious in 1981 and approx. 17% of weddings were religious by 2022

What are the five main reasons for the decline in marriage?

• changing attitudes

• secularisation

• reduced stigma

• the changing position of women

• fear of divorce

How have changing attitudes contributed to the decline in marriage?

• marriage is no longer seen as the only acceptable relationship form

• individuals have greater freedom to choose alternative relationships, linked to individualisation

How has secularisation contributed to the decline in marriage?

• religion has become less influential in society

• marriage is no longer seen as a religious duty

How has reduced stigma contributed to the decline in marriage?

• cohabitation has become socially acceptable

• having children outside marriage is less stigmatised

How has the changing position of women contributed to the decline in marriage?

• women have greater access to education and employment

• women are less financially dependent on marriage

• linked to feminist explanations

How has the fear of divorce contributed to the decline in marriage?

• rising divorce rates discourage marriage

• divorce can be emotionally and financially costly

What economic factor has contributed to the decline in marriage?

the high cost of weddings - couples prioritise buying a home and financial stability

Which sociologist proposed the neo-conventional family?

Chester

What is cohabitation in sociology?

an unmarried couple living together in a sexual relationship

How has cohabitation changed in the UK?

• increased significantly

• the fastest growing family type in the UK

How has same sex cohabitation changed?

increased

How many children live in cohabiting couple families?

approx. 16.2% of dependent children lived in cohabiting families in 2021

What is serial cohabitation?

when individuals live with multiple partners over time without marrying

What does Coast (2006) argue about cohabitation?

• approx. 75% of cohabiting couples intend to marry

• cohabitation may act as a trial marriage

What did Shelton & John (1993) find about cohabiting relationships?

cohabiting women do less housework than married women, suggesting greater equality

How do New Right sociologists view cohabitation?

• a threat to traditional marriage

• leads to family instability and moral decline

What does Morgan (2000) argue about cohabitation?

cohabiting couples are less happy and less stable than married couples

What does Murphy (2007) argue about children born outside marriage?

• they are more likely to experience health problems

• they are more likely to underachieve at school

Which sociologists explain changes in relationships through individualisation?

• Giddens (1992)

• Beck (1992)

• Gernsheim (1995)

According to Giddens, what is the pure relationship?

a relationship entered for personal satisfaction - it continues only as long as both partners gain happiness

According to Beck, what is the negotiated family?

family roles are negotiated rather than fixed - individuals prioritise personal choice and equality