changing family patterns

• What has changed in family patterns over the past 40 or 50 years?

  Major changes in family and household patterns
• What has happened to the number of traditional nuclear family households?

  It has fallen
• What trend has been observed in divorce rates?

  Divorce rates have increased
• What is the trend regarding first marriages?

  There are fewer first marriages
• What has been observed about re-marriages?

  There are more re-marriages
• At what age are people marrying now compared to the past?

  People are marrying later in life
• What trend has been observed in cohabitation?

  More couples are cohabiting
• How are same-sex relationships recognized legally?

  Through civil partnerships or marriages
• What trend is observed regarding women's childbirth?

  Women are having fewer children later
• What is the trend regarding births outside marriage?

  There are more births outside marriage
• What type of families are becoming more common?

  There are more lone-parent families
• What trend is observed in people living alone?

  More people live alone
• What is the trend regarding stepfamilies?

  There are more stepfamilies
• What is the trend regarding couples without children?

  There are more couples without children
• What are the main changes in family life patterns in Britain?

  • Changes in marriage, cohabitation, and divorce
  • Controversial interpretations by family sociologists
• Why is divorce considered a major cause of changing family patterns?

  It creates lone-parent families and one-person households
• What has been the trend in the number of divorces since the 1960s?

  There has been a great increase
• How much did the number of divorces increase between 1961 and 1969?

  It doubled
• What happened to the number of divorces by 1971?

  It doubled again
• When did the number of divorces peak in the UK?

  In 1993 at 165,000
• What was the number of divorces in 2012?

  118,000
• How does the divorce rate in 2012 compare to 1961?

  It is about six times higher
• What is one reason for the fall in divorces since the 1990s?

  Fewer people are marrying and choosing cohabitation
• What proportion of divorce applications come from women?

  About two-thirds
• How do changing family patterns reflect societal trends?

  They indicate shifts in marriage and cohabitation norms
• What is the trend in divorce and marriage rates?

  Divorce is increasing, marriage is decreasing
• What are some reasons for the increase in divorce rates?

  Secularisation, decline in stigma, women's position
• What percentage of marriages end in divorce?

  40%
• How have legal changes contributed to increasing divorce rates?

  Divorce has become easier and more accessible
• What does secularisation refer to in the context of divorce rates?

  Decline in religious influence on society
• How do higher expectations of marriage affect divorce rates?

  Unrealistic expectations lead to dissatisfaction
• How has women's financial independence influenced divorce rates?

  Women can afford divorce due to independence
• What are some reasons for the decline in marriage rates?

  Changing attitudes, economic independence, feminism
• What is one alternative to marriage that is becoming more accepted?

  Cohabitation
• How does the impact of feminism relate to marriage views?

  Some women see marriage as patriarchal
• What trend is observed in marriage regarding age?

  People are marrying later in life
• What is serial monogamy?

  Remarrying multiple times
• What is a trend regarding church weddings?

  Fewer church weddings due to secularisation
• What factors contribute to more people living together without marriage?

  Secularisation, stigma, and cost
• What is the trend in same-sex partnerships?

  Increase in same-sex partnerships