Marriage (Family Patterns)

Declined since 1970-

1972 -480,000

2000- 306,000

Remarriages have increased since 1960-

1961- 57, 000

1971-2- The Divorce Reform Act 1969

2000- 126, 000 (46% of all marriages)

Marrying later since 1970-

Rose by 7 years on average 1971-2005

Such as:

• Less pressure to marry
• Able to choose what kind of relationship they want

Cheal (Post-Modernist)-  

Greater choice over family structure has led to greater family diversity.

Cricticism-

Greater risk of instabilty and are more likely to break up.

Such as:

• Increase of secularisation
• No longer they feel like they need to marry for religous reasons
• Freer to choose what relationship they enter to

However

Majority of first-time marriages are still in a religous context.

Such as:

• Cohabitation
• Singleton
• Children outside of marriage

British Social Attiudes Survey

70% in 1989

54% in 2000

That people who want kids should get married

However

Cohabiting couples tend to get married so just the average age of marrying has risen.

Such as:

• Finanically indpendent from men e.g. career and education prospects have improved
• Feminist view of marriage being patiarchal can stop women from marrying

However

Instead of not getting married putting it off to improve thier career standing.

Feminist- Due to improved career options women are now faced with a triple shift- paid work, domestic work and emotion work