Divorce

• What is the trend in divorce rates since the 1960s?

  There has been a big increase in divorce rates since the 1960s.
• How much higher was the divorce rate in 2012 compared to 1961?

  In 2012, the divorce rate was 6 times higher than in 1961.
• What has been the general pattern of divorce since 1993?

  There has been a general pattern of decline in divorce since 1993.
• What percentage of marriages now end in divorce?

  40% of marriages now end in divorce.
• What percentage of divorces are initiated by women?

  65% of divorces come from women.
• Who are the couples most likely to divorce?

  • Couples who marry young
  • Couples who have a child before marriage or cohabit before marriage
  • Couples where one or both partners have been married before
• What is one reason for the recent fall in divorce rates?

  Fewer people are getting married, and there is a rise in cohabitation.
• What are some explanations for the increase in divorce rates?

  • Less stigma and changing attitudes towards divorce
  • Women's increased financial independence
  • Individualisation (Beck and Giddens)
  • Changes in the law making divorce easier
  • Feminist explanations
  • Secularisation
  • Rising expectations of marriage
• How has societal stigma towards divorce changed?

  Society is less likely to stigmatise divorce and divorcees now.
• What was the church's historical stance on divorce?

  The church condemned divorce and was unwilling to marry divorcees.
• How has women's financial independence affected divorce rates?

  Women are less likely to be financially trapped in unsatisfactory marriages.
• What do Beck and Giddens argue about individualisation in late modern society?

  They argue that the traditional norm of duty to remain with the same partner loses its hold over people.
• What is a 'pure relationship' according to Giddens?

  A 'pure relationship' exists to satisfy each partner's needs, not based on duty.
• How do rising divorce rates affect societal views on marriage?

  Rising divorce rates normalize divorce and the idea that marriage exists for personal fulfillment.
• What changes in the law have made divorce easier?

  The grounds for divorce were equalized between men and women in 1923.
• What did the Divorce Law Reform Act (1969) change about divorce grounds?

  The Act allowed divorce based on irretrievable breakdown, such as unreasonable behavior or separation.
• What did the Matrimonial Family Proceedings Act (1984) allow?


  The Act allowed couples to get divorced after one year.
• How did legal aid affect divorce costs?

  Legal aid lowered the cost of divorce starting in 1949.
• What do feminists argue is the main cause of marital conflict and divorce?

  Feminists argue that the oppression of women within the family causes marital conflict and divorce.
• What is the 'triple shift' as described by radical feminists?

  The 'triple shift' refers to paid work, domestic work, and emotional work that women perform.
• How does Hochschild (2001) describe the impact of dual earner households on marriage?

  Hochschild points out that dual earner households have less time for emotional work needed to address problems.
• What did the ESRC (2007) find about working mothers and divorce rates?

  Working mothers with a dual burden were more likely to divorce than non-working mothers.
• What does the personal life perspective say about divorce?

  The personal life perspective believes we need to consider what divorce means to the individual.
• How do New Right theorists view high divorce rates?

  New Right theorists see high divorce rates as undermining the traditional nuclear family.
• What are some alternatives to divorce?

  • Desertion: one partner leaves but remains legally married
  • Legal separation: court separates financial and legal affairs but remains married
  • Empty shell marriage: couples live together but are married in name only
• What are the various explanations for the increase in divorce rates?

  • Changes in societal attitudes and stigma
  • Women's financial independence
  • Individualisation and changing relationship expectations
  • Legal changes facilitating divorce
  • Feminist perspectives on marital conflict
  • Decline of religious influence
  • Rising expectations of marriage
• What is the conclusion regarding the reasons for the increase in divorce?

  There is no single reason for the increase in divorce; a combination of factors is at work.
• How has the perception of divorce changed in contemporary society?

  Divorce is now much more socially acceptable and affordable than in the past.