Divorce

Cohabitation refers

to two people living together in the same residence whilst also being part of a intimate romantic relationship.

Marriage refers

to the legally or formally recognized union of two people as partners in a personal relationship

Divorce refers

to the legal dissolution of a marriage by a court or other competent body.

LAT refers

couples are couples who are in a committed intimate relationship or marriage but live at separate addresses.

4 explanations

1. Individualisation

2. Feminism and increased financial independence

3. Changes in law → declining stigma

4. Secularisation → declining stigma
   

Individualisation

P: Beck and Giddens argue modern society, traditional norms, duty to remain with the same partner have lost hold → everyone can pursue own self interest → INDIVIDUALISATION THESIS

E: Relationships are more fragile as people are less willing to remain with their partner if they do not feel fufilled → no longer shame attached

E: This is known as a ‘pure relationship’. → exists purely to suit the needs of the partner → not duty, tradition or children → confluent love → serial monogamy → 80% of divorcees get remarried → encouraged through rising divorce rate and women are expected to work instead of prioritising their family

L: Persuit of self interest → spouses are pulled apart

E: not all cultures

Feminism and increased financial independence

P: Feminism has raised the rights, ambitions and position of women. → Most women work alongside having a family. 51% vs 72% in 1971 vs 2020 → service sector has made this easier as more flexible

Dual burden (Ann Oakley) paid work and domestic labour → more conflict

E: Hochschild argues that domestic labour is unfavourable compared to paid work as they feel less valued → men benefit from the triple shift → denies needs of women but meets needs of men → 30% more dl and 50% more care

E: Both must work → less time for emotion work → women no longer have to be financially dependent on men → more choice and ability to leave

L: The lack of financial dependence has given women more freedom and no longer have to tolerate the poor standards → dont have to tolerate disrespect or absence of love

E: Men still continue to outearn

Changes in law

P: Historically, divorce was very difficult to obtain → easier today through changes in law that equalised grounds for divorce, widening the grounds for divorce, making divorce cheaper

E: Firstly, the grounds for divorce were equalised for men and women in 1923 → sharp rise in divorce from women Secondly, The 1969 Divorce Reform Act introduced a ‘no fault’ divorce → doubled divorce rate as no longer needed to prove a reason like ADULTERY or ABANDONMENT

Recent reforms such as the 2020 “no-fault” divorce law further simplify the process and it cannot be contested

E: Divorce has been made far easier and accessible for everyone, not just the richest members. → The Divorce rate was 2.5 per 1000 marriages in the 1950s, gradually increased to 4 per thousand through the 1960s and then rapidly increased to 10 per thousand by the mid 1970s.

L: This normalises divorce as well as it becomes more common → less stigma and changing attitudes → New Right argue that this undermines the nuclear family as it is easier to breakdown

E: Allan and Crow argue that laws make divorce easier, but they don’t cause it.

Secularisation

P: Wilson (1966) argued that religious thinking, practice, and institutions have lost social significance. Fewer people now attend church or follow religious doctrines strictly, which means the stigma attached to divorce has decreased → no longer viewed as a sin as it is not viewed as a promise with God

E: Church attendance declined In 1980, around 11.1% to 5% of the population in 2010s. → religious teachings hold less weight → marriage is forever → only 25% of marriages are religious

E: Many churches has softened views

L:

E: The Bible Society's research, for example, suggests a 50% increase in church attendance across England and Wales between 2018 and 2024, driven by a "Quiet Revival" among Gen Z and Millennials.