Changing Patterns

• Cheaper - no economical-aftermath worries for those separating

• Secularisation - less influence from religion to stay married/not to remarry

• Women - more freedom; choice to divorce (7/10 filed by women

• Laws - change in laws has made it easier to divorce

• Norms - altered attitudes towards divorce, so now seen as normal

• Options - now have the option to divorce

• Economical - £24,000+ on average for a wedding

• Social attitudes - acceptance of co-habitation

• Secularisation - less influence from religion

• Women - less economically dependent; more choice

• Fear of divorce - remain unmarried to avoid divorce

• Women - less financially dependent; freedom

• Secularisation - no longer a sin to live out of wedlock

• Norms - 'young person's game' (88% of 18-42 year olds agree)

• Options - choice not to marry

• Laws - decriminalisation of male homosexuality

• Social attitudes - more tolerance

• Secularisation - no longer have to live in a family (two parents) with a child; dwindling influence of religion

• Women - more choice as to whether they raise a child in a two-parent family

• Options - option of divorce/not to have a partner

• Norms - tolerance/acceptance of single-parents

• Laws/economics - absent parent still has to pay for the upkeep of the child, therefore more financially viable to be a single-parent

Black Families

• Female single-parent families

• Child stayed with mother during slavery

• High male unemployment so unable to provide for the familu

Asian Families

• Larger households of 3-4.4 persons per household

• Mainly nuclear but can be extended
  • More children due to lower male age profile (childbearing age)
  • Bean-pole family