Sociology of the Family (Trends)

Declined over the past 30 years from 3.1 people in 1964 to 2.4 people in 2006

Reasons for this:

• Women Employment: more women have careers and put this ahead of family life
• Cost of Childcare: a survey from daycare trust reported that childcare cost had covered 1/4 of household income
• Lifestyle Choice: because of a materialistic society and consumer goods mean that lifestyle choices are different from those from the past

Has declined over the past 30 years

• Peak for marriages were in 1972 with 480,000
• Since then marriages have been decline till the 21st century
• However has fallen 10% between 2004-05
• Some people would rather co-habitat or live alone as it is much easier
• Marriage is still a popular choice and half of men and women in the UK were married

A rise in Marriages and re-marriages

• Re-marriages rose to 1/3 between 1971-72, as a result of the divorce reform act of 1969
• by 2005 re-marriages were constituted for 40% of marriages in the UK

Marrying Later in life

• 40 years ago Men married at the age of 25 now 31, women married at 23 now 29

Crow (2001)

• Marriages based on emotional fulfilment
• Now based on relationships

Before marriages for women were for financial security but now because of economic freedom it is not the case now

Increase in rate