Changing Families and Divorce: Sociological Perspectives
Recent Changes in Families
Ageing Population: Increased life expectancy and older populations.
Decline in Marriage & Growth of Cohabitation: rise in cohabiting relationships and "Living Apart Together" (LAT) scenarios where couples maintain commitment without cohabiting.
Rising Divorce Rate:
In 2021, divorces in England and Wales numbered approximately 113,505.
66% of divorces instigated by women.
Influenced by factors such as the Divorce Reform Act (1969) simplifying the divorce process, decline in stigma, and changing attitudes towards marriage.
More Births Outside Marriage: Increase in births occurring outside traditional marriage settings.
Growth in Alternative Family Arrangements: Growth of blended families and relationships deviating from the traditional nuclear family structure.
Blended Families: Increase in reconstituted families due to remarriages.
The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act (2013) recognized marriages of same-sex couples.
Decline in Family Size: Factors include better contraception, economic mobility leading families to move for work, and prioritization of career over family.
Child-Centered Families: More focus on children; changing disciplinary methods; children are now expected to be heard and respected.
Symmetrical Family: Changing roles within families where men and women share household responsibilities more equitably.
Weakening of Extended Kinship Links: Reduced loyalty towards extended family ties; preference for personal careers over family business.
Increase in Childless Couples: People delaying or opting out of parenthood due to economic factors and lifestyle preferences.
Loss of Traditional Family Functions: Changing roles within families diminishing the traditional economic and nurturing roles as both parents now often share these functions.
Rise in Singlehood: Growing trend of individuals choosing not to marry or seeking relationships based on love rather than economic security or social status.
Divorce Statistics in the UK (2021)
Average Duration of Marriage at Divorce: 12.3 years for opposite-sex couples, 5 years for same-sex couples.
Reasons for Divorce: Most common reason cited by wives is unreasonable behavior.
Legal Considerations:
Important to note that divorce rate doesn't accurately reflect the number of people in unhappy marriages or those feeling compelled to stay together due to financial constraints or religious beliefs.
Explanations for the Increasing Divorce Rate
Legal Changes:
Equalizing Grounds for Divorce (1923) and Widening Grounds for Divorce (1971) led to more petitions, particularly from women.
Introduction of Legal Aid (1949) reduced financial barriers to divorce.
Declining Stigma:
Changes in societal attitudes have made divorce less stigmatized, as articulated by Juliet Mitchell and Jack Goody (1997).
Secularisation:
Reduced influence of religious beliefs on marriage and divorce, as evidenced by declining church attendance.
Rising Expectations of Marriage:
Higher expectations leading to dissatisfaction and greater willingness to divorce (Ronald Fletcher, 1966).
Women's Financial Independence:
Increased workforce participation allowing women to leave unsatisfactory marriages more freely.
Economic independence supports a rise from 53% to 67% working women (1971 - 2013).
Feminist Perspectives:
Emphasizes the need for equality in domestic roles as a source of marital discord.
Women’s dissatisfaction with masculine dominance and traditional marriage structures.
Modern Relationships and Family Patterns
Living Apart Together (LAT):
Definition: Long-term relationships where partners are committed but do not share a home.
Statistics: 1 in 10 adults found to be in LAT relationships according to Simon Duncan and Miranda Phillips (British Social Attitudes, 2013).
Changing Patterns in Childbearing:
Smaller families; many women delaying childbirth or choosing a childfree life.
Significant rise in births outside of marriage, with 47% occurring outside marriage by 2013.
Rise of One-Person Households:
Increased singlehood, particularly among younger adults, driven by career priorities and reduced stigma surrounding single living.
Lone Parent Families:
Significant rise in lone-parent families, mostly led by mothers, comprised of 15% of all families with increasing poverty rates among them.
Perspectives on Changing Family Dynamics
The New Right:
Critiques the rise of diverse family forms; sees it as detrimental to the nuclear family model, leading to maladroit social outcomes.
Feminists:
Applaud rising divorce rates as a sign of women escaping patriarchal constraints of the traditional family.
Postmodernists:
Emphasize individual freedom in relationship choices reflecting modern society's diversity.
Functionalists:
Argue high divorce rates reflect changing norms and expectations within marriage but doesn't threaten the institution as noted by continued high remarriage rates.
Interactionists:
Focus on personal interpretations of divorce, arguing for individual subjective experiences, as expressed by David Morgan (1996).
Conclusion: The interrelation of changing laws, societal attitudes, and economic factors has contributed to a dramatic transformation in family structures and dynamics within society. Understanding these factors is crucial for comprehending the evolving nature of relationships and familial configurations.
These notes summarize critical insights into the dynamics, changes, and explanations surrounding modern family structures, particularly focusing on changes in divorce, marriage, cohabitation, and the diverse arrangements observed in contemporary society.