partnerships

how are partnerships changing

• only 24% of weddings are now in churches due to secularisation, church scandals and the cost

• number of LATs (living apart together) are rising due to more women having economic dependence, technology allowing communication, a degree of separation being a way to maintain romance

why do less marriage happen today than in the past

changing attitudes

• less concerned with marriage tosay

• illegitimate children is not a common term now

• less shotgun weddings

• prevailing sense of self interest

secularisation

• declining influence of religion

• 2021 census shows 46% adults claimed to be christian

• cohabitation is no longer sinful

• BSA found only 35% people think a couple should be married to have children

a fear of divorce

• 1/3 marriages end in divorce

• many young people see marriages as a disaster waiting to happen

• commitment can be shown in many other ways

what is cohabitation

• living together while unmarried

• these is an increasing number of cohabiting families (20% in 2022)

what does Chester argue about cohabitation

• we have a greater degree of choice

• cohabitation can be seen as a trial marriage or as a permanent alternative to marriage completely

why have attitudes progressed on homosexuality

• more media representations of gay people

• decrease in religious ideas

• government changing laws about things (legalised gay marriage) can change culture

what are some statistics about homosexuality

• it was illegal to be gay in the military until 2000

• 1967- homosexuality was decriminalised

• 1983- first openly gay MP elected (chris smith)

• 2004- civil partnerships are legally equal to marriage

• 2014- same sex couples are able to marry

what sociological research exists on equality amongst same sex relationships

• the emergence of the chosen family can allow them to create their own support networks

• Weston- stable same sex relationships move away from the typical 70s gay attitude it rejecting monogamy and family life

• Einasdottir- changed to the law are a concern as equal rights may change power dynamics

what other types of family have emerged

• one person households are on the rise- 3 in every 10 which is triple the number from 1961

• estimated that by 2033, 30% adults will live alive

• Duncan and Phillips- 1 in 10 adults are LATs

• 8.6 million people in the UK live alone