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.
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