changing patterns of divorce

change in attitude towards marriage

• marriage is not held with as much importance

• laws related to marriage do not enforce it

reasons for decline in first time marriage

• secularisation

• changes in the position of women

• fear of divorce

divorce reform act 1969

idea of matrimonial offence + guilty part abolished

empty shell marriage

• feminists approve

• an escape from partiachal families (triple shift + dual burden)

mitchell and goody

• divorce more socially acceptable

• willing to resort to it to solve marital problems

• e.g. king charles = divorcee, head of CofE

crow

• women are more financially independent

• equal pay act

• welfare benefits → no dependency on husbands

feminist: jessie bernard

• women feel dissatisfaction with partiachal marriage

• women more confident in rejecting partiachal oppression

post modernist: gernsheim

• women and men expected to work + pursue personal career ambitions

• can cause conflicts of interest + contribute to marital breakdown