Reconstituted Families

• Trends & Patterns

  Consequently, in recent years, there has been a rise in the number of reconstituted families in the U.K. Reconstituted families are becoming more commonplace and are considered to be one of the fastest growing family types. In the 2011 Census, 1.1 million children in the U.K live as part of a reconstituted family. This equates to approximately 11% of family types in the U.K. This has risen from 8% in 2013 (ONS, 2013).
• Reasons for rise in reconstituted families

  • Divorce
  • Changes in legislation
  • Individualisation & Confluent Love
  • Changing societal norms & values
  • Co-parenting
• Divorce


  Many reconstituted families are formed from the separation or divorce of a previous relationship
• The ONS revealed that the average age for divorce among opposite-sex couples in 2018 was 46.9 years for men and 44.5 years for women
• People are getting married and having children later than previous generations
• Many marriages dissolve


  Subsequent relationships are formed while there are still dependent children living in the household
• Divorce Reform Act


  Introduced the no-fault divorce, where irretrievable breakdown of marriage was regarded as sufficient grounds for divorce
• Neither partner needed to be found at fault, as separation for two years was considered sufficient grounds if both partners agreed, or separation for five years if one contested the divorce
• Divorce legislation allowed/allows people to legally dissolve their marriage
• Individualisation


  The increasing value that is placed on marriage, where people expect and demand more from marriage and relationships, and are more likely to end a relationship rather than remain in an 'empty-shell marriages'
• Confluent Love


  A shift towards a belief that marriage should be based solely on love and if you are unhappy, you deserve to find your true soulmate
• Individuals being more free to pursue their own interests is referred to as the 'individualisation thesis'
• The end of one relationship


  Inevitably leads to the formation of another
• If those people are lone parents and they form subsequent relationships, this leads to the formation of a reconstituted family
• An important change since the 1960s has been the rapid decline in the stigma attached to divorce, lone parenthood and cohabitation
• Society is becoming more accepting of family diversity
• Many religions, i.e. Christianity and Islam teach us that a nuclear family, with a married heterosexual couple raising children in the eyes of God, is the only appropriate family type
• Marriage was initially a religious ceremony binding two individuals together under the eyes of God, and divorce is regarded as sinful in many religions
• Due to secularisation, the traditional opposition of the churches to divorce carries less weight in society and people are less likely to be influenced by religious teachings when making decisions about personal matters like divorce
• Co-parenting


  A parenting situation where there are two (or more) people parenting a child, either because parents agree to share the care of children after a divorce/separation, or because both parents have never been in a romantic relationship, married or cohabitating
• Reasons for rise in reconstituted families 

  Divorce 


  • Many reconstituted families are formed from the separation or divorce, people are getting married and having children later than previous generations, indicates many marriages dissolve and subsequent relationships are formed while there are still dependent children living in the household. 
  • Changes in legislation; i.e. Divorce legislation allows people to legally dissolve their marriage. This combined with other explanations for divorce enables them to remarry and, if there are dependent children, form reconstituted families. 
• Individualisation & Confluent Love 

  • rise in divorce and re-marriage reflects increasing value placed on marriage- expect more from marriage, more likely end rather than stay in 'empty-shell marriages. Belief now marriage be based on love and if are unhappy, deserve to find true soulmate .As a society mostly moved away from 'staying together for the kids'. In terms of the family, because of notion of 'confluent love' etc., the end of a relationship will lead to the formation of another. If lone parents and form relationships leads to formation of reconstituted family. 
• Changing societal norms & values 

  rapid decline in the stigma attached to divorce, lone parenthood and cohabitation. Allan and Crow -society is more accepting of family diversity.  secularisation . As couples no longer feel bound to remain in 'empty shell marriages' for fear of religious and societal sanctions.
• Co-parenting- parenting situation where are two (or more) parenting a child.  May be due to: Parents who agree to share the care of children. after a divorce/ separation; instead of the children remaining solely or mainly with one parent. It may also refer to a parenting situation where both parents have never been in a romantic relationship, married or cohabitating. Gay people have possibly always done this discreetly, but can be open about this pattern now.