A Level Sociology Family - Trends in Marriage, Divorce and Children

• Marriage - New Right

  Concerned at the decline - regulates behaviour. The decline has created moral decay.
• Marriage - Wilkinson (1994)

  Believes there has been a 'genderquake' due to the opportunities now open to women
• Marriage - Smith (2001)


  Believes there are unrealistic expectations from marriage and our needs can only be fulfilled from different partners
• Marriage - Campbell (2000)


  Believes marriage benefit men more than it does women
• Marriage - Young & Wilmott (1973)


  Nuclear family still most common but has become more symmetrical (equal) due to industrialisation
• Cohabitation - New Right - Morgan (2000)


  Less stable than marriage - found cohabitating couples were less happy, more likely to be unfaithful and more stressed
• Cohabitation - New Right - Murray


  Suggested children did less well at school & were more likely to suffer serious illness
• Cohabitation - Kiernan (2007)


  Points out that the above may be because cohabitating couples tend to also be less well off.
• Cohabitation - Chester 1985 & Coast 2006


  Other research suggests it is in the main a temporary phase in life.
• Cohabitation - Bejin (1985)


  Believes it's popularity with the young is due to the need to create a more equal relationship.
• Same Sex Relationships - Stonewall (2008)


  Estimates 5-7% of adult population is in a same sex relationship. It is difficult to know if it is an increase due to previous stigma and illegalityOpinion polls show more toleranceSocial policy more equal
• Same Sex Relationships - Weeks (1999)


  Trend towards stable same sex cohabitation
• Same Sex Relationships - Weston (1992)

  'Quasi marriage
• Same Sex Relationships - Cheal (2002)


  Fear that the normalisation of same sex relationships may be negative as many wish to retain the idea of difference
• Divorce - New Right


  Divorce rate a symptom of a serious crisis in family life. Divorce is too easily available. Children more prone to crime, unemployment and divorce as adults.
• Divorce - Rodgers & Pryor (1998)


  Children more likely to suffer behaviour problems, to underachieve at school, to become sexually active young, to smoke, drink & take drugs and finally more likely to experience poverty as adults
• Divorce - Flouri & Buchanan (2002)


  Found that involvement from the fathers helped to decrease the likelihood of problems in the children
• Divorce - Feminist


  See high divorce rates as desirable as it shows that women are breaking free from patriarchal oppression
• Divorce - Postmodernist


  See high divorce rates as a response of greater freedom of choice
• Divorce - Interactionists


  Believe it can be both positive and negative depending on the situation
• One Parent Families - Murray (1984)


  Growth results from an over generous welfare state
• Feminist


  Believe one parent families are viewed as negative because of the over emphasis of nuclear as best whereas in many cases it may be for the best
• Reconstituted Families - Ferri & Smith (1998)


  Similar to nuclear families but are at greater risk of poverty
• Reconstituted Families - Allen & Crow (2001)


  Tension caused because of divided loyalties and contact issues
• Reconstituted Families - McCarthy et al (2003)


  Issues have little difference to those encountered in nuclear families