Changing Family Patterns
- Created by: tieganlucy
- Created on: 30-12-16 20:08
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- Changing Family Patterns
- Divorce
- Explanations for the increase in divorce
- Changes in the law
- Divorce was difficult to obtain in the 19th century, especially for women
- 3 changes were made: Equalising the grounds, Widening the grounds and Making divorce cheaper
- Divorce is the legal termination of marriages but couples may also solve unhappy marriage by:
- Desertion - one partner leaves but remains legally married.
- Legal separation - court separates the financial and legal affairs.
- 'Empty shell marriage' - the couple live under the same roof but remain married in name only.
- Declining stigma and changing attitudes
- In the past divorce has been stigmatised such as in church but as stigma declines divorce becomes more acceptable and common.
- Secularisation
- The decline in the influence of religion in society has meant churches are softer about divorce.
- Rising expectations of marriage
- High expectations make couples less willing to tolerate an unhappy marriage.
- Follows the idea that if love dies there is no longer any justification to remain married.
- Women's increased financial independence
- Women are now in paid work and therefore feel less financially dependent on their husbands.
- Feminist explanations
- Women bear a dual burden and therefore there is conflict between man and wife.
- Marriage remains patriarchal with men benefiting from their wives.
- Modernity and individualisation
- In modern society, traditonal norms such as the duty to remain with the same partner for life, lose their hold over individuals.
- Changes in the law
- Explanations for the increase in divorce
- Partnerships
- Marriage
- Reasons for changing patterns of marriage
- Fall in marriages due to same reasons as divorce.
- Changing attitudes to marriage such as less pressure.
- Secularisation means couples are less forced to marry.
- Declining stigma attached to alternatives to marriage such as children outside of marriage and cohabitation.
- Changes in the postition of women means women are less economically dependent on marriage.
- Fear of divorce means people may not bother to start with.
- The relationship between cohabitation and marriage
- Cohabitation
- Reasons for the increase in cohabitation
- Decline in stigma attached to sex outside of marriage.
- The young are more likely to accept cohabitation.
- Increased career opportunities for women mean they're less dependent on the financial security of marriage.
- Reasons for the increase in cohabitation
- A trial marriage meaning they act like a married couple to test if marriage will work.
- Cohabitation
- Fewer people are marrying.
- More remarriages.
- People are marrying later.
- Reasons for changing patterns of marriage
- Cohabitation
- Reasons for the increase in cohabitation
- Decline in stigma attached to sex outside of marriage.
- The young are more likely to accept cohabitation.
- Increased career opportunities for women mean they're less dependent on the financial security of marriage.
- Reasons for the increase in cohabitation
- Same sex relationships
- There is evidence of increased social acceptance of same sex relationships in recent years.
- Social policy now treats all couples more equally.
- Chosen families - same sex couples are seen to families based on the idea of 'friendship as kinship' where friendships become a type of kinship network.
- One person households
- Almost 3 in 10 households contain only one person.
- 40% of one person households are over 65.
- The increase in separation and divorce has created more one person households.
- 'Living apart together' - couples live separately but spend time staying at each others houses.
- Marriage
- Parents and Children
- Childbearing
- Nearly half of all children are born outside of marriage.
- Less stigma attached to having children outside of marriage.
- Women are now having children later.
- Women are having fewer children.
- Women have a career before a family.
- Women are now having children later.
- Women have a career before a family.
- More women are remaining childless.
- Women have a career before a family.
- Women have a career before a family.
- Nearly half of all children are born outside of marriage.
- Lone-parent families
- Over 90% are headed by mothers.
- The widespread belief that women are by nature suited to an 'expressive' role.
- Divorce courts usually give custody to women.
- Men may be less willing than women to give up work.
- The New Right believe the growth is due to an over-generous welfare state.
- Over 90% are headed by mothers.
- Stepfamilies
- Account for over 10% of all families with dependent children in Britain.
- Can face problems such as contact with the non resident parent can cause tensions.
- Most children are from females previous relationship.
- Increased because of increase in divorce.
- Childbearing
- Ethnic Differences
- Black Families
- Have a higher proportion of lone parent families.
- Can be traced back to slavery when couples were sold separately the children went to the mother.
- Male unemployment and poverty have meant that black men are less able to provide for their family.
- Asian Families
- Tend to be larger at around 4 persons per household.
- Such households sometimes contain 3 generations.
- Due to migration in the past, extended families are likely to live close and visit frequently.
- Black Families
- The Extended Family
- The beanpole family
- It is extended vertically through 3 or more generations.
- But it is not extended horizontally.
- Because of: Increased life expectancy - more surviving grandparents. Smaller family sizes - fewer siblings thus fewer horizontal ties.
- Obligations to relatives
- Sons are rarely chosen as caregivers for an elderly woman.
- Females are more likely and more expected to take care of relatives.
- Males are more likely to be expected to give financial help.
- The beanpole family
- Divorce
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