What are the three main important changes in relationships?
1)Marriage and divorce 2)Cohabitation 3)Single-parent families
1 of 17
What are the main changes to marriage and divorce?
Marriage - Reached peak 70's -now declining. Greatest decline = proportion of first marriages - more re-marriages (15% in 1971;40% in 2005) Average age=higher.Religious marriages-decreased(61% are now civil marriages) Divorce rates =increased
2 of 17
What are the main changes to Cohabitation?
1997:24% of couples, ages 16-54 - cohabitation. Later marriages often proceeded by cohabitation. Many choose not to marry at all.Also increased due to gay&lesbian couples.Partly responsible for an increase in the proportion of births outside marriage
3 of 17
What are the main changes to single-parent families?
1993: 22% of families with dependent children - headed by lone parents(8% in 1971). --> 20% headed by lone mothers - 2% fathers. Despite concern in recent years-number of children born to lone mothers - fallen(though UK highest in Europe)
4 of 17
What's the main trend of reconstituted families?
Risen!! --> new nuclear families are formed when divorcees remarry.
5 of 17
What's the main trend of households containing one person?
By 1998 - 28% of households contained one person.Half= elderly Half= Younger likely to be divorcees or those who have not married.
6 of 17
What are the 7 main explanations for these changes?
1)More choices available 2) Life expectation 3)Changes in the law 4)Support from state 5)Secularisation 6)The position of women 7)Changing social attitudes
7 of 17
What's the effect of life expectation?
Many couple household-children who have left home, women live longer than men-many single person households=elderly women.
8 of 17
What's the effect of more choices being available?
Marriage & childbirth = put off-career & education. More social mobility = less pressure or support from extended family may lead to more divorce &individual choice. May be a positive choice not to marry.
9 of 17
What's the effect of changing social attitudes?
Attitudes--> Cohabitation=changed-no longer seen as living in sin. Marriage=not seen as necessary. Illegitimacy= more tolerant as single-parent families are more common.
10 of 17
What's the effects of changes in the law?
Main changes: grounds for divorce, speed for divorce, a shortening of the period of marriage necessary before a divorce can take place, the cost of divorce, possibility of no blame divorces. Women equal rights in terms of jobs, opportunities and fina
11 of 17
What's the effect of the position of women?
Last 40 years: women have gained more equality. Women now have a career or job thus feel more independent without men.
12 of 17
What's the main effects of secularisation?
Proportion of population regularly attending some sort of religious institutions has declined a lot--> less of an impact. Increase in civil marriage -shows marriage is now not seen as a religious institution thus greater possibility for divorce
13 of 17
What,s the main effect of support from the state had?
Women-feel more able to support themselves independently as a lone mother or divorcee since state provided child benefit, income support. Families leave elderly relatives- meals on wheels, day-care etc.
14 of 17
What do the New right think about the changes?
Worrying, challenging best family form(nuclear), divorce-cohabitation etc-->seen as detrimental to family. Feminism and equal rights--> undermining traditional roles. State support= scrounging, reduces individual responsibility.Murray-single pa
15 of 17
What do feminists think about the changes?
May allow them women to escape violence and conflict- many of changes reflect women's increased ability to be independent which is good. Feminists may criticise new right views on lone mothers as little incentive in gaining the things provided state
16 of 17
Does this point to the disintegration of the family?
Argue no: Dennis (1993) - many single parent families have committed fathers, cohabitation and births outside marriage often conceed what are essentially stable.
17 of 17
Other cards in this set
Card 2
Front
What are the main changes to marriage and divorce?
Back
Marriage - Reached peak 70's -now declining. Greatest decline = proportion of first marriages - more re-marriages (15% in 1971;40% in 2005) Average age=higher.Religious marriages-decreased(61% are now civil marriages) Divorce rates =increased
Card 3
Front
What are the main changes to Cohabitation?
Back
Card 4
Front
What are the main changes to single-parent families?
Comments
No comments have yet been made