Families & Households

• What are the main changes in family life over the last 50 years?

  Changes in partnerships, childbearing, and parenting
• What factors are responsible for changes in family life?

  Legal changes, less stigma, and individualization
• What percentage of marriages now end in divorce?

  40%
• How has the legal landscape changed regarding divorce since the 1960s?

  Divorce has become easier and cheaper with broader grounds
• What significant legal aid change occurred in 1969?

  Legal aid was introduced for divorce cases
• How has stigma around divorce changed over time?

  Stigma has declined, making divorce more acceptable
• What impact has the normalization of divorce had on society?

  It has made couples more willing to divorce for their wellbeing
• What are the different family structures mentioned in the study material?

  • Lone-parent families
  • Reconstructed families
  • Single families
  • Extended families
• What sociological perspective emphasizes traditional family structures?

  Functionalism and the New Right
• What does Chester's concept of the neo-conventional family refer to?

  A family structure that reflects modern partnerships and roles
• What are the five types of diversity identified by the Rapoports?

  Organizational, cultural, social class, life stage, and generational diversity
• What is the individualisation thesis proposed by Giddens and Beck?

  It claims that individual self-interest governs our actions today
• How did traditional family structures provide stability?

  By defining each member's role within the family
• What does Giddens argue about the pure relationship?

  It exists solely to satisfy each partner's needs
• What is the negotiated family according to Beck?

  A family structure that varies according to its members' wishes
• What does the connectedness thesis propose?

  That decisions about relationships are made within a social context
• How does the connectedness thesis challenge the pure relationship concept?

  It shows that relationships are influenced by social ties and obligations
• How many times more divorces are there now compared to the 1960s?

  Six times as many divorces
• What trend has been observed in the number of marriages since the 1960s?

  The number of marriages has fallen by about 100,000 a year
• What has happened to the average age at first marriage?

  The average age has risen to over 30
• What percentage of weddings now take place in church?

  About 30%
• What are the six trends described in Item A regarding marriage and divorce?

  1. Six times as many divorces as in the 1960s
  2. Number of marriages has fallen by about 100,000 a year
  3. Number of cohabiting couples has risen
  4. Average age at first marriage has risen to over 30
  5. More re-marriages are occurring
  6. Only about 30% of weddings now take place in church
• What should be included in an evaluation of sociological explanations of trends in marriage and divorce?

  Legal changes, declining stigma, secularization, and women's financial independence
• Which sociological perspectives should be referenced in evaluating trends in marriage and divorce?

  Feminism, functionalism, and the New Right