Divorce + theory

• The New Right

  They see higher divorces as a bad thing. They see them as undesirable because they undermine traditional family values and the nuclear family. They claim that children aren't socialised properly because they lack a male role model.
• Feminists

  Feminists would feel the changes are a good thing because they show that women are breaking free of the patriarchal nuclear family which oppresses them. Liberal feminists would appreciate this trend as a positive development. Radical feminists may argue more is needed and they would argue for an increase in divorce and political lesbianism.
• Post-modernists

  They think this shows individuals making individual choices to end relationships if they don't meet their needs. It gives them individual freedom. This proves there's no single explanation of the way things should be anymore and people have a lot of choice to find individual ways of living.
• Personal life perspective

  They accept that divorce cause problems such as financial difficulties and lack of daily contact between children and non-resident parents. However, Smart argues that divorce has become normalised and that family life can adapt to it without disintegrating.
• Functionalists

  They believe the nuclear family is good for society and benefits all members. They argue that the increase in divorce doesn't mean that marriage or the nuclear family is under threat. They argue people's high expectations of marriage is why divorce rates have risen and people's continuation to re-marry demonstrates a continued commitment to marriage within society.
• Interactionism

  This is a micro-sociological theory, attempts to understand the meaning of divorce for the individuals involved. Morgan argue we can't generalise about what divorce means because everyone's interruption of it is different. Mitchell and Goody provide evidence, one interviewee described the day her dad left as the best day of her life, another said she had never recovered from her father deserting the family.