CHANGING FAMILY

PATTERNS

CHANGING FAMILY PATTERNS: MARRIAGE AND COHABITATION

By the end of the topic you will be able to:-

Identify key trends in marriage, divorce and cohabitation

Outline the reasons for changes in family patterns

THINKING POINT…. Write down what ‘divorce’ means to

you…

Decree Nisi

Decree Absolute

Separation

CHANGING PATTERNS OF DIVORCE

1. What has happened to the marriage rates since 1961?2. What has happened to the divorce rates?

RISING DIVORCE RATESOne of the most significant changes in the family in Britain has been the increased changes in the number of marriages and divorces. The number of divorces rose from 27,000 in 1961 to around 171,000 by 1999 and by the 1970's it has almost doubled. Britain has the highest divorce rates in the European Union. About 40% of new marriages today are likely to end in divorce, and if present rates continue, more than 1 in 4 children will experience a parental divorce by the time they are 16.

ACTIVITY In your ‘buzz groups’ create a mind map

poster to provide explanations on why you think divorce rates have risen and marriages have fallen.

EXPLANATIONS FOR THE INCREASE IN DIVORCE Changes in Law Declining stigma and changing attitudes Secularisation Rising expectations of marriage Changes in the position of women

CHANGES IN LAW Divorce used to be extremely difficult to

obtain in 19th century Britain, especially for women

Gradually changes in law have made divorce easier

3 changes:1. Equalising the grounds of divorce

between the sexes2. Widening the grounds of divorce3. Making divorce cheaper

EQUALISING REASONS DIVORCE BETWEEN SEXES When this happened in 1923 there was

a sharp rise in the number of women petitioning for divorce

Similarly widening the grounds to ‘irretrievable breakdown’ in 1971 saw a sharp rise in the number of petitions, this doubled the divorce rate almost overnight!

ALTHOUGH DIVORCE IS THE LEGAL TERMINATION OF THE MARRIAGE… Desertion

Legal Separation

‘Empty Shelf’

DECLINING STIGMA AND CHANGING ATTITUDES Divorcees have been stigmatised in the

past

This stigma has declined and divorce is now more socially acceptable

SECULARISATION The decline of religious influence in

society

43% of people with ‘no religion’ were cohabiting compared with 17% of muslims in 2001 census

RISING EXPECTATIONS OF MARRIAGE Functionalists such as Fletcher (1966) argue that

higher expectations are now placed on marriage

‘Romantic Love’

Functionalists are still optimistic about marriage – most people do it! People are not rejecting it as an institution

However…. Too rosy a view?

What would feminists argue about marriage?

Why did people get married pre industrialisation??

CHANGES IN THE POSITION OF WOMEN Activity

What changes have occurred which could explain high divorces rate which reflect the above?

Changes

More likely to be in

Paid work

Girls performing better at school

Narrower pay gap

Welfare stateSpouses have

their own separate wages

More arguments between

spouses now that women are

In paid work (feminism)

At work women feel valued, at home they feel frustrated that men still don’t do housework

Hochschild (1997)

Perspective

The New Right Divorce is undesirable because it undermines the traditional nuclear family. Creates an underclass of welfare state dependent single mothers.

Feminists It’s desirable because women are ‘breaking free’ from patriarchal control!

Postmodernists

Gives individuals freedom to choose to end a relationship because it no longer meets their needs.

Functionalists Does not necessarily prove that the institution of marriage is under threat. It is simply a result of peoples higher expectations of marriage.

Interactionists Aim to understand what divorce means to the individual.

PARTNERSHIPS As we saw earlier

few people are getting married

But there are more re-marriages in 2005 4/10 marriages were remarriages

People marry later now

Less likely to marry in church

Explain….

COHABITATION With the decline in marriages and

increase in divorce rate more couples are ‘cohabiting’

Living together in a sexual relationship but not married

TYPES OF HOUSEHOLD One person household Same sex couples Living with parents

For each of the above explain why the numbers have increased.

ACTIVITY Read the statistics in your booklet and

answer the questions

PARENTS AND CHILDREN Read through the section on

childbearing and answer the questions.

BY THE END OF THIS SESSION YOU WILL:- Complete and peer assess a range of

short answer exam questions in order to recap changing family patterns.

Outline a range of skills needed in order to complete essay questions successfully!

ANSWER THE FOLLOWING… Explain what is meant by the term

‘serial monogamy.’ (2) Suggest 2 reasons why so few lone

parent families are headed by fathers (4)

Identify 2 reasons why for the trend toward getting married later in life (4)

Suggest 3 reasons for the increase in the number of divorces (6)

Now peer assess….

USING CONNECTIVES TO… Expand on a point ‘for example’ ‘In addition’ ‘furthermore’ ‘moreover’ ‘this is illustrated by’ To evaluate ‘However’ ‘this is limited because’ ‘although’ To use a contrasting perspective to

evaluate‘On the other hand’ ‘In contrast to’

MRS MS TOP 5!!! 1. Always read the question carefully, think about the verb.

What is it actually asking you to do? In most cases for a 24 marks essay the verb will be either assess or examine. Before you start think about what the focus of the essay will be, read and use the item!

2. Start off by referring back to the question to show the examiner you are attempting to answer it. Try to this at the start of each new paragraph.

3. Use connectives to show the examiner you about to evaluate – and what does evaluate get you?! AO2!!!!

4. Try to give examples, you also gain marks for ‘interpretation’ that means how you see something!! Can you make a valid point about it? Can you give your own example?

5. Use Sociological concepts rather than everyday language, this gains you higher marks, however remember to explain them! This gets you even higher marks!