Flashcards for Changing Family Patterns (4.5)

Since the 1960s, what has happened to the number of divorces in the UK?

What percentage of marriages now end in termination?

One reason for the fall in the number of divorces since the 1990s is that fewer people are marrying. What are they choosing to do instead?

Some couples are more likely than others to divorce. Which couples are at greater risk?

Divorce was very difficult to obtain previously, especially for women. One explanation for the increase in divorce is the changes in law. Give examples:

In what year were the grounds for divorce equalised, meaning both men and women could file?

Although divorce is one option, couples can take alternative routes if unhappy. What other options do they have?

However, these options have become less popular in recent years. Why?

Another reason for divorce being more common is the decline in stigma. Which two sociologists note that, since the 1960s, stigma has declined?

A third reason for the increase in divorce is secularisation. Why does this influence the divorce rate?

Another explanation for the increase in divorce is the rising expectations of marriage. Which functionalist sociologist pointed this out?

What are these higher expectations linked to?

Despite today's high divorce rates, functionalist sociologists take an optimistic view. What do they point out?

Feminist sociologists argue that the functionalist view is 'rose-tinted'. According to feminists, what is the main cause of marital conflict and divorce?

Although functionalists offer an explanation for the rising divorce rates, what do they fail to do?

Another reason for the increase in divorce is women's increased financial independence. Why does this have an impact on divorce rates?

Although women still generally earn less than men, what laws have helped narrow the pay gap?

In addition, what is now available, meaning women no longer have to remain financially dependent on their husbands?

The increase in divorce also has feminist explanations. According to feminists, women now bear a dual burden. What has this created?

While there have been major improvements in women's position in the public sphere, what do feminists argue about women's position in the private sphere?

Which sociologist argues that for many women, the home compares unfavourably with work?

Which sociologist argues that working women are more likely to divorce?

Which two sociologists respond to Single-Rushton's claims by arguing that there is no evidence to say that working women are more likely to divorce?

Finally, one explanation for the increased divorce rate is the individualisation thesis. Which sociologists pioneered this thesis?

The thesis claims that, in modern society, individuals seeking independence and personal fulfilment. Why does this increase divorce rates?

How does modern society encourage individualism?

There have been four important changes in the pattern of marriage in recent years. What are they?

In 2012, a third of all marriages were remarriages for one or both partners. What can this be referred to as?

In addition, people are marrying later in life. What does the average age of a first marriage now stand at?

Finally, couples are less likely to marry in church. In 2012, what proportion of weddings were conducted with religious ceremonies?

Many reasons for the fall in first marriages are similar to the reasons for the increase in divorce. What are these reasons?

Why is the age at which couples marry rising?

There are two reasons why couples are now less likely to marry in a church. What are they?

What is cohabitation?

While the number of marriages has fallen, the number of couples cohabiting continues to increase. How many cohabiting heterosexual couples are there in Britain?

How many cohabiting homosexual couples are there in Britain?

What proportion of those who cohabit are 'serial cohabiters'?

Why does increased career opportunities for women impact the cohabitation rate?

Although cohabitation increases as marriage decreases, the relationship between the two isn't easily distinct. Which sociologist argues that for most people, cohabitation is a part of the process of getting married?

According to Ernestina Coast, how many cohabiting couples say that they expect to marry each other?

According to Stonewall, what percentage of the adult population now have same-sex relationships?

There's evidence of increased social acceptance of same-sex relationships in recent years. What year were male homosexual acts decriminalised for consenting adults aged 21+?

Which 2004 Act gave homosexual couples similar legal rights to married couples in respect to pension, inheritance, tenancies and property?

Since 2014, homosexual couples have been able to do what?

Jeffery Weeks argues that increased social acceptance of same-sex relationships may explain the trend towards what?

Weeks sees homosexuals as creating families based on which idea?

How does Kath Weston describe same-sex cohabitation?

Other sociologists have noted the effect that legal framework - such as civil partnerships and marriage - has had on homosexual relationships. What do Graham Allan and Graham Crow argue?

Anna Einasdottir notes that while many homosexuals welcome the opportunity to have their partnerships legally recognised, what do others fear?

Fewer people today are living in couples. There has been a major rise in the number of people living alone. In 2013, how many households contained just one person?

Which group are the most likely to live alone, and why?

The decline in the marriage rate and the trend towards marrying later in life means more people are remaining single. It's possible that many single adults are opting for what?

However, while many opt for creative singlehood, others are not alone out of choice. Why may they be single?

It's often assumed that those not living with a partner are single. However, which two sociologists found that about 10% of adults are 'living apart together'?

Of all adults officially classed as single, what percentage are living apart together?

Public attitudes towards LATs are positive. How many stated that it is their ideal relationship?

Childbearing rates are also changing. How many children are now born outside of marriage?

Women are also having children later in life. What was the average age to have a first child in 2012?

Reasons for the increase in births outside of marriage include a decline in stigma and an increase in cohabitation. What percentage of 25-34 year olds now think marriage needn't come before parenthood?

The later age at which women are having children, smaller family sizes and the fact that more children are remaining childless all reflect the fact that women now have what?

Lone-parent families now make up what percentage of all families with children?

How many of these lone-parent families are headed by the mother?

Until the early 1990s, divorced mothers were the biggest group of lone mothers. From then, however, this changed. Who are now the biggest group of lone mothers?

However, a child living with a lone parent is how much more likely than a child living with two parents to be in poverty?

Why has the number of lone-parent families risen recently?

Lone-parent families tend to be female-headed for several reasons. Give examples:

According to Charles Murray, the growth of lone-parent families is a result of what?

What does Murray think the over-generous welfare state has created?

What culture has the welfare state led to?

What is Murray's solution to this problem?

However, what do critics of New Right views argue?

What reasons are there for lone-parent families being at greater risk of poverty?

In Britain, stepfamilies account for what percentage of all families with dependent children?

Elsa Ferri and Kate Smith found that stepfamilies are very similar to first families in all major respects. However, what are stepfamilies at greater risk of?

Why are stepfamilies at a greater risk of poverty?

Why are the children in stepfamilies typically the woman's offspring?

What may cause the tensions faced by stepfamilies?

Why does Jane Ribbens McCarthy believe we should speak of stepfamilies using the plural?

Immigration into Britain since the 1950s has helped to create greater ethnic diversity. Analysis of the 2011 consensus shows that what percentage of the UK population was white?

Black Caribbeans and Black Africans have a higher proportion of lone-parent households. In 2012, how many Black families with dependent children were lone-parent families?

The high rate of female-headed, lone-parent black families has sometimes been seen as evidence of family disorganisation. What can this disorganisation be traced back to?

However, which sociologist argues that the higher rate of lone-parent families among black isn't the result of disorganisation, but actually a reflection of the higher value that black women place on independence?

Furthermore, Tracey Reynolds argues that the statistics are misleading. Why?

Which ethnicity is most likely to live with extended family?

What do larger Asian households reflect?

Functionalists believe that the extended family is no longer important important in modern industrial society. What did Nickie Charles find when examining the classic three-generation family living together under one roof?

However, while the extended family has declined, it hasn't altogether disappeared. What does Peter Willmott argue?

Mary Chamberlain suggests that the extended family survives because it performs important functions for its members. Which sociologist found that both working- and middle-class families had emotional bonds and relied on one another for support?

Bell's findings suggest the importance of the the 'beanpole' family. Which sociologist came up with this term?

Beanpole families may be partly the results of which two demographic changes?

Despite the rise of the beanpole family, many people still feel a sense of obligation to help their wider extended kin. What did Janet Finch and Jennifer Mason find?

However, there is some variability in what can be expected of different relatives. What did Finch and Mason find?

However, while daughters are more likely to take responsibility for the care of elderly relatives, not all daughters in a family necessarily play an equal part. What did Jennifer Mason find?

In addition, Janet Finch and Jennifer Mason found that the principle of reciprocity is also important. What is meant by this?