In the late 1960's, divorce
rates started to increase
Why the following might lead
to an increase in divorce rates?
Changes
in law
Makes it more
legally accepted
Wider
availability of
contraception
Makes it more acceptable to have sex outside of marriage
Reduced
functions of
the family
They feel because
divorce is more accepted
it is the best solution
Increased life expectancy
Too much commitment for such a long time
Allows more time for
things to go wrong
Welfare state
More people feel they'd find a
way to cope outside of marriage
More support
Secularization
Less religious views mean
there isn't any need to follow
the religious traditions
Changing roles
and attitudes
of women
Women take control
if they are not happy
More financially dependant
Privatized
nuclear family
Limited advice/
sanctuary
Changing social attitudes
and reduced social stigma
Reasons for the divorce
increase:
More socially
acceptable
More widely available
Women now have
a say in divorce
Secularization
Cheaper
Change
in laws
Why divorce rates have
recently started to decline
Taking longer to
get married
Expense
Increased
internal
support
Cohabitation
Educated-
less younger
people getting
married
Feel more secure
More equality
between men
and womer
Less financial stress to worry about
Definitions
Divorce:
The legal termination of a marriage
Seperation:
The legal couple
end their
marriage, move
to seperate
residences BUT
remain legally
married
Some couples may obtain seperation orders
Empty shell marriages:
The couple live together but
marriage exists in name only
Society's view on divorce
New right:
Patricia Morgan 1999-
'Large numbers of
fatherless youths
represents a high risk
factor for crime'
Undermines the traditional nuclear family.
Creates an underclass of welfare dependent
female lone parents and leaves boys without
the adult male role model they need.
Feminism:
High divorce rates are desirable - indicate a step
towards equality. Women who have freedom to
choose. Alternatives form of a family in which
women are free from male domination.
Marxism:
Rodgers and Pryor
1998- 'Children of
divorces or seperated
parents have a higher
probability of
experiencing a range
of problems such as
poverty, poor
housing, teenage
pregnancy and
educational
underachievement.'
Mavis Hetherington 2002- '3 of 4 children experience long term
damage from divorce. 25% have serious emotional or social problems
compared with 10% from families who don't experience divorce.'