AS-Level Sociology

Marriage, Cohabitation and Divorce

Friday, April 7, 2023

Introduction

In the past marriage was a popular religious ceremony which couples

went through to show their love and commitment to each other.

Although today there are many threats which have been identified which will

have an affect on the traditional marriage.

Marriage

1971 – 459,000 marriages

1991 – 350,000 marriages

During the period of 1971 to 1991 divorce rates more than doubled.

Marriage

The threats to marriage can fall into two categories. These are:

• Threats which result from alternatives to marriage.

• Threats which result from the breakdown of marriages.

Think!Can you think of any examples which would

fit into either of these two categories?

Marriage

Threats resulting from alternatives to marriage.

• Marriage Rates – People are delaying marriage therefore at present there is a decline.

• Bernades (1997)- Points out that most people get

married at some point in their life.

Marriage

Threats resulting from alternatives to marriage.

• Cohabitation – This is on the increase. By 2002 over a quarter of non-married people in Britain were cohabiting.

• Burgoyne and Clark (1984) - A significant proportion of their sample said

cohabitation is a good idea. Although it is not an permanent alterative to marriage.

Marriage

Threats resulting from alternatives to marriage.

• Single-Person Households – Many people now live on their own, this may be because they are divorced or separated or it may just be a deliberate choice of life.

• Single person households are becoming more common in Britain.

Marriage

Threats resulting from the breakdown of marriages.

There are three main categories which threats from the breakdown of marriage

can fall into. These are:• Divorce – The legal termination of a

marriage• Separation – The physical separation

between two spouses• Empty-Shell Marriages – The spouses

remain living together although their marriage exists in name only.

Divorce

In modern societies divorce has risen steadily, although in the 1990’s the

divorce rate was fairly stable. Chandler- Approximately 40% of marriages will

end in divorce. - Remarriages are also on the rise.

Explaining Marital Breakdown

Marriage is declining

Divorce is increasing

Remarriages are rising

So why are marriages breaking up?

Explaining Marital Breakdown

The Value of MarriageFunctionalists Parsons and Fletcher

argue that marriage today is too valued.

People expect more and demand more from marriage and this can lead to

marital breakdown. The British Attitudes Survey (2001)Marriage is still largely valued although cohabitation

is also seen as a legitimate alternative.

Explaining Marital Breakdown

Conflict Between SpousesLeach (1967)- The nuclear family suffers from an

emotional overload which then increases the level of conflict between family members.

Explaining Marital Breakdown

Modernity, Freedom and ChoiceGibson (1994)- Modernity has lead to the

development of increasing individual achievement.

- There is no emphasis on consumer choice, this means if you don’t find satisfaction in your first partner you can seek an alternative.

Explaining Marital Breakdown

The Ease of DivorceToday it is said that divorce is a much

easier process to go through than it was before. The reasons for this are:

• Secularisation• Changing attitudes• Changes in the law

Gibson (1994)-The decline in religion has weakened the religious belief which binds a couple together and this. -Therefore makes divorce more likely.

The grounds for divorce has widened therefore

making a divorce easier to obtain.

The stigma which used to be attached to divorce has also considerable reduced.

People no longer see divorce as such a bad,

deviant thing.

The law has changed making divorce easier to

obtain.

In 1857 a private act of parliament was required in

order for someone to obtain a divorce.