Theorists for Demographics

• Sue Sharpe - Compared to the changing roles of women from 1970's to 1990's where women are becoming more successful in education and work as they are provided more financially independent opportunities without the need of marriage or to have children
• Wilkinson - Argues there is a radical shift in the way women perceive their role in society. They are becoming less able to prioritise marriage and childbirth as apart of their main goals and seek independency. It is shown through women performing better in education.
• Goode - Suggests that the rise of divorce rate is due to the breakdown of traditional norms and values. This means society is becoming less stigmatised where individuals are becoming more secular in which reflects their attitudes and they are not controlled in the present
• Fletcher - The rise of divorce rate is due to people having very high expectations of married life and separated if expectations are not met/attainted
• Gibson (Post modern) - a Post-Modernist view that divorce is caused by the ideology of the market because it encourages us to emphasise our individuality and to be self-centred. This undermines the possibility or members of society to hold a collective belief. Because we are so demanding in reference to our life as consumers, we are no longer satisfied with off-the-shelf products, we want bespoke (customised) goods. We take these unrealistic expectations into marital relationships and, inevitably, this leads to more divorces.
• Beck - There is less stigma among individuals through traditional structures and institutions. Meaning there is less loyalty and commitment through the demands of social norms or marriage and family life. In which, consequences are surfaced for certain individuals to weigh up and decide rather relying a traditionally socially acceptable structure. For example: They may not choose to live a long commitment of marriage
• Macvarish - The presence of individualisation is shown through the 'singleness' of women. Where they are able to express their own choices and able to avoid the spinster image (where an unmarried woman is passed the expected age of marriage and is unlikely to marry).
• Chester - The neo-conventional family where the diversity of family types are overplayed as the nuclear family continues to be dominant. What is different is that both Breadwinner and instrumental roles are played. They stay the same but still working
• Rapoports - Suggest that diversity is a central importance in family life where the traditional nuclear type are becoming less apparent. This means Britain have adapted to a pluralistic society (Cultural, Life stage, Organisational, Generational, Social Class)
• Giddens argues that there has been a change in intimate relationships, which he calls the development of late modernity, related to the individualisation thesis.
• Traditional relationships were based on romantic love through the 18th century, a period when people were able to read and write.
• The recent phase of modernity impacted the idea of love and idealisation of relationships.
• Plastic sexuality is a concept where people have greater choices in whom they engage with sex with and the desire of self improvement.
• The technological advancement of contraception is an example of plastic sexuality.
• Plastic sexuality also changed the nature of love, replacing it with confluent love, a concept where individuals look to create meaningful relationships based on respect, intimacy and closeness and love.
• Pure relationships continue if both parties are benefitting, a concept known as transaction.
• Separation in relationships happens as people now have choices due to plastic sexuality.
• Plastic sexuality is a concept where people have greater choices in whom they engage with sex with and the desire of self improvement.
• Separation in relationships happens as people now have choices due to plastic sexuality.
• There has been an increase in institutional reflexivity, a phenomenon where there is a loss in traditional influence and social pressures affecting the longevity of relationships.
• Institutional reflexivity will greatly affect how people reflect upon institutions among society and change them for the better.
• Stacey - Suggests that families in the new era are more diverse and their shape solely depends on the active choices people make how to live their lives. This means there is no longer a discussion on which family type is dominant in contemporary societies as there are no assumption.
• Blake and Blake - Suggests that relationships are shaped by the development of modernity through the characterisation of individualisation rather than reflexivity. This ranges from urbanisation and secularisation, increase in personal mobility (both social and geographical).