Changing Family Patterns

• In a nutshell


  Divorce is increasing and marriage is decreasing. Reasons for this include secularisation, decline in stigma, changing position of women, and changes in the law.
• INCREASING DIVORCE RATES


  40% of marriages now end in divorce.
• LEGAL CHANGES


  Divorce has become easier to access; equalising the grounds between both genders; widening the grounds (eg. irretrievable breakdown).
• LESS STIGMA


  Divorce has become more common and widely accepted.
• SECULARISATION


  Decline in religious influence on society.
• HIGHER EXPECTATIONS IN MARRIAGE

  the rising expectation of marriage based upon unrealistic scenarios shown in movies has led to the dissatisfaction amongst many couples (Fletcher).
• WOMEN'S FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE


  More women are now in paid employment, and lone parent welfare benefits are available. Women are less economically dependent on a man, and can afford divorce.
• DECREASING MARRIAGE RATES - Changing attitudes 


  Less pressure to marry
• DECREASING MARRIAGE RATES - Alternatives to marriage 


   (such as cohabitation) are less stigmatised
• DECREASING MARRIAGE RATES - Women's economic...

  independence
• DECREASING MARRIAGE RATES - impact of feminism


  some women now see marriage as a patriarchal institution
• DECREASING MARRIAGE RATES - Rising divorce rates


  this may put women off marrying
• Other trends in marriage:

  Rise in serial monogamy - many people re-marry

  Later marriages - the young spend longer in education and cohabit before marrying

  Fewer church weddings - due to secularisation
• PARTNERSHIPS


  More people are living together without being married (secularisation, stigma and cost)

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  Increase in same-sex partnerships (secularisation and stigma)

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  More people living alone (life expectancy and stigma)
• CHILDBEARING AND CHILDREARING


  More children are born outside marriage

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  Women are having children later

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  Radical feminists are still unhappy with women being the main caregivers