Key trends family

Key trends
What is the family?

A key aspect of family is kinship (ties through blood and
marriage).

Allan and Crow ­ things have become more complex due to
changing patterns of cohabitation, divorce and remarriage.

Seems that ties that are maintained and developed are
socially defined.

Jordan ­ parenthood…

Popular in past where family were reliant on each other
for support and with work.

Young and Willmott ­ the family developed
through 4 stages from extended to nuclear.
It was just a reflection for the needs of the
time.



McGlone ­ from the social attitudes survey he found that…

- Increase in housing costs
- Lack of social housing
- Expense of higher education

Marriage

Allan and Crow ­ marriage is now on
relationship, people expect emotional fulfillment.
Before women would of not had economic
freedom to divorce



Decline in marriages

Peak for marriage was 1972 with 480,000 marriages…

Matrimonial Family Proceedings: Only have to be
married for 1 year rather than 3
Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act meant
that absent parents had to pay maintenance
People can afford too
Securitization: means that divorce is more acceptable
in some cultures
Demographic changes: People living longer so may…

Single Person Households

Increase

2005-1971 3 million ­ 7 million (National Statistics 2007)

Still most common in older people, especially older
women
Chandler ­ popular with 25-44 year old, especially men

Why?

Lifestyle choice: Freedom, changes in attitudes
(genderquake)
Womens employment: live alone while pursuing career
- Changing patterns mean…