divorce / marriage

• divorce


  legal termination of marriage
• -70% of divorces initiated by women

  -33% of marriages end in divorce
• functionalist view on divorce

  -reject divorce

  -marriage is part of social solidarity
• feminist view on divorce

  -encourages seperatism

  -reinforces stereotypes as women left with children

  -financial strain

  -leaves men to be free from childcare
• new right view on divorce

  -single mothers with dependent children may cause financial strain

  -poverty
• postmodernism view on divorce

  -signifies individuality

  -accepts divorce

  -no longer confined to social structure

  -individual choice is central to our way of life
• what causes people to give up on marrige

  -changes in law

  -rising expectations

  -declining stigma & changing attitudes
• changes in law timeline- causing divorce

  -divorce easier, equal, cheaper

  -before 1857: divorce didn't exist

  -1857: men could divorce women

  -1923: women given same divorce rights

  -1937: divorce allowed on grounds of drunkenness, insanity & desertion

  -1969: divorce law reform act
• disadvantages of easy divorce

  -people may divorce without reflection & impulsively

  -causes hard times for children
• advantages of easy divorce

  -people can safely get out of marriages

  -won't be waiting to divorce for years
• ending the 'blame game'

  -'no fault' divorce

  -minimum 20 week period between commencement & application for order (to reflect)

  -can't contest a divorce

  -irretrievable breakdown remains sole reason

  -aim to reduce family conflict
• expectations of marriage in 1950s

  -most people had little choice over who they married

  -location, work, money > important factors

  -romance was a 'bonus'
• Fletcher - rising expectations of marriage


  -we place too high expectations on marriages

  -why so many fail
• declining stigma & changing attitudes - divorce rates

  -where society shares negative thoughts about person / group

  -high profile divorces published in media > highlights its normality & acceptance