Sociology

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What are the various ways a marriage can break down?
Death of a partner, seperation (not yet divorced), empty shell marriages and divorce.
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What is the divorce rate?
The number of divorces per 1000 married couples per year.
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What is the current divorce rate?
40%
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What is the divorce rate predicted to be by 2030?
50%
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What law was passed in 1857?
Men could divorce wives for adultery but women had to prove husbands cruelty or another matrimonial offence, in addition to adultery.
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What law was passed in 1949?
Legal Aid, making divorce more affordable.
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What law was passed in 1984?
The minimum period after marriage before a divorce petition could be filed was reduced from three years to one.
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Which groups are most likely at risk of divorce?
Young people, remarriages, working class couples, mixed cultural marriages and children of divorced parents.
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Why are young people at risk?
As they mature, their interests may change and they may grow apart.
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Why are remarriages at risk?
They are less tolerant with their partners misbehaviour in a second marriage.
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Why are working class couples at risk?
They tend to get married younger and may also suffer financially from not having a well paid job.
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Why are mixed cultural marriages at risk?
They have pressure from family and friends and may have different practices and beliefs.
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Why are children of divorced parents at risk?
They see divorce as a norm and are less likely to believe marriage lasts.
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Why is there a rise in divorce rates?
Changes in the law make it easier and cheaper to obtain. Roles of women have changed as well as attitudes and their growing financial dependence. Changes in social attitudes means less stigma. Higher expectations of marriage causes divorce.
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Why is there a rise in divorce rates?
Privitisation of the family. Population growth and secularisation (decline in religious beliefs and practises.
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How does changes in divorce legislation help increase the rate of divorce?
Every time the laws change, the divorce rate goes up because it makes it easier and cheaper.
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Why was changes in attitudes of women a reason for the divorce rate to increase?
Women have become more independent, thanks to feminists. Women dominate the service sector. They're no longer dependent on men and they can now claim benefits.
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How was changes in social attitudes a reason for the increase in the divorce rate?
Divorce is not seen as a sin anymore. Stigma is reduced, they see marriage as a holy reunion and divorce as a norm.
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Why is higher expectations of marriage a reason for the divorce rate to rise?
Expectations of marriage is raised due to media. People expect too much. Negative attitudes develop leading to divorce. (want food on the table when they get home etc).
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Why is privatisation of the family a reason for divorce rates to increase?
Families have become nuclear, they are socially privatised and isolated. Theres no escape from family therefore they cut ties with extended family. This causes more conflict (leading to divorce).
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Why is longevity a reason for divorce to increase?
People live for longer therefore they may get fed up of being with the same person. Most common time to get a divorce is when children leave home.
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Why is population growth a reason for divorce?
More people get married, more people get divorced.
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What social groups are least likely to get divorced?
Same ethnic groups because they'd highly value marriage and family and see divorce as a sin. Middle class people because they're financially stable. They do everything they've wanted to do before having children and getting married.
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Why are older people less likely to get divorced?
They have been socialised into valuing marriage and expect marriage to last for life. They may also be more religious.
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What type of households does divorce create?
Single parent families, reconstituted families and single person households.
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What are Functionalists views on divorce?
Believe in 2 positive role models so divorce means children do not have two positive role models.
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What are Marxists views on divorce?
Positive attitude towards divorce because they see marriage as a capitalist institution which oppresses and exploits people.
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What are feminists views on divorce?
They support divorce as it enables women to get out of an unequal, patriarchal and abusive relationship.
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What are the New Rights views on divorce?
They hate divorce as it produces single parent families. They argue it destroys the nuclear family and produces single parent families which rely on the state and create a burden of dependency. Their children lack two positive roles.
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What percentage of marriages are remarriages?
40%, first marriages are decreasing and remarriages are increasing.
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What is the average age of a couple marrying for the first time?
31
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How many years does it take a couple who are cohabiting to marry?
5 years.
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What percentage of marriages are conducted in a religious ceremony?
35%
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Who are more likely to remarry sooner?
Men.
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What marriages are likely to end in divorce?
Remarriages.
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What are the reasons for changing patterns of marriage?
Changes in attitudes towards marriage, changes in attitudes of society, fear of divorce, cost of getting married, changes in legislation, changes in attitudes of women and secularisation.
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Why is changing in attitudes towards marriage a reason for changing pattern of marriage?
People have more choice as to whether they marry or not. Fewer are marrying because there is no social stigma attached to being single. Many don't marry due to fear of divorce.
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What are changes in attitudes of society a reason for changes in marriage?
Society no long disapproves of people who do not marry. People are still living together and having children but are just not marrying. This may be due to secularisation, or because it has become a norm.
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Why is changes in attitudes of women a reason for changes in marriages?
Women are delaying marriage to extend their education
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Why is changes in legislation a reason for changes in patterns of marriage?
Gay marriage was introduced in 2014 therefore there has been a slight increase in marriages since then.
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Why is secularisation a reason for changes in marriage patterns?
Due to the decline in religious beliefs and practises, there has been a change in social attitudes towards marriage, leading to a decrease of marriages. Fewer people are religious, they aren't influenced by religious beliefs. Its not a holy union.
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Why is the fear of divorce a reason for changes in marriage patterns?
With the growing number of divorces (40%) many people are experiencing the consequences of divorce eg parental divorce. This makes them less likely to marry.
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What are Functionalists views on marriage?
It promotes two positive role models and is functional, as it promotes the ideal nuclear family, provides children with stability and 2 positive role models.
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What are Marxists views on marriage?
See it as a capitalist institution which has negative consequences for individuals, it allows capitalists to oppress people and keep them under control.
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What are Feminists views on marriage?
See it as negative for women. It is a patriarchal institution where women are oppressed to abuse and often financially dependent on their partners.
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What are the New Right's views on marriage?
It is positive, it is a stable institution where parents act as positive role models, socialising children with values and morals.
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What percentage of people will cohabit at some point in their life?
30%
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Which sex are more likely to cohabit?
Men.
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What reasons are there for the rise in cohabiting couples?
Changes in attitudes of society, rising divorce rate, changes in legislation, secularisation, the cost of getting married, changes in attitudes of women, longevity.
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Why is changes in attitudes of society a reason for the rise in cohabitation?
As marriage has decreased and divorce has rised, cohabitation will become more acceptable and social values have changed. Society is more tolerant of cohabiting, both gay and straight. It is as a trial run of marriage. It is no longer seen as sin.
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Why is the cost of getting married a reason for the rise of cohabiting couples?
The average cost of getting married in the UK is £18,000. This may put couples off getting married who would rather put towards a house etc.
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Why is the rising divorce rate a reason for cohabitation?
They don't want to get divorced so they don't get married. They may be divorced and chose to cohabit rather than marry again.
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Why is changes in attitudes of women a reason for cohabitation?
They see it as a viable alternative to marriage and due to the decline in religious beliefs and values, there is less stigma attached. Women see cohabiting as more of an equal marriage.
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Why is changing in legislation a reason for cohabitation rising?
Civil Partnership Act 2004 meant gay people could now live with each other and gave them the same legal rights as straight couples.
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Why is longevity a reason for cohabiting couples?
As people are living longer, they are more likely to have several relationships throughout their lives, they won't always marry but may chose to cohabit.
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What are Functionalists theoretical views on cohabitation?
Cohabitation is positive if it lessens the chance of divorce, as partners will find out if they're suited together before marriage.
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What is Marxists theoretical views on cohabitation?
They see cohabitation as positive because partners are legally bound to each other and the capitalist institution of marriage.
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What is Feminists theoretical views on cohabitation?
They see cohabitation as a more positive relationship for women as they're not legally tied to a man.
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What is the New Rights theoretical views on cohabitation?
They see cohabitation as negative because there is no legal binding contract, as in marriage. Relationships are less likely to last, which would leave children without two positive role models.
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How are marriage and cohabitation becoming similar?
Couples share a common residence, both have legal rights, can have children and be a nuclear family, both can be long term.
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What percentage of gay couples did Stonewall estimate there is today?
7%
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Why is it impossible to compare figures of the past when it comes to gay people?
Because it was often hidden and kept secretive.
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What act was decriminalised in 1967?
Male homosexual acts for consenting adults over the age of 21, was brought down to 16.
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What did the sociologist Weeks claim?
Growing social acceptance of gay couples in recent years has lead to open cohabitation and stable relationships, similar to those found in heterosexual families. Gay couples create families based on the idea of 'friendship is kinship'.
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What did Weeks argue?
Some gay people do not want to accept heterosexual norms and would prefer their lifestyle and status to be different.
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What did the sociologist Levin research?
Living Apart Together (LAT).
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What are partners within a LAT called?
Apartners.
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What is a LAT?
When two people class themselves as a couple, are in a long term, committed relationship but do not share a common residence.
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What does Haskey suggest?
That 2 millions (30% of men and women) between the ages of 16 and 59 are in a LAT relationship and this number is growing.
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What reasons does Levin give for this?
As divorce and seperation increases, LAT's have become more common and socially acceptable. Individualisation is growing and people are living longer and more prone to seeking out new partners.People are moving for work so meet new people.
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What do LAT's enable couples to do?
Have an intimate relationship but also still have independence.
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Why do people chose LAT's instead of marriage or cohabiting?
May have responsibility of someone else (child, older relatives), practical reasons (may work in different areas) and some may not want to risk divorce (if they have already had past experience).
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Card 2

Front

What is the divorce rate?

Back

The number of divorces per 1000 married couples per year.

Card 3

Front

What is the current divorce rate?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

What is the divorce rate predicted to be by 2030?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

What law was passed in 1857?

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Preview of the front of card 5
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