Families

• Marriage has declined over the last 50 years
• In 2001 the lowest number of marriages took place in the UK since records began
• Over the same period, there has been an increase in the number of adults cohabiting
• Serial monogamy


  People are more likely to have a series of cohabitations rather than a lifelong marriage
• Cohabitation


  A long-term alternative to marriage
• Giddens supports this because people expect more from relationships and are less likely to accept being in an 'empty' marriage
• Other social changes that have contributed to the decline in marriage


  • The impact of feminism may have made marriage less attractive
  • The fear of divorce may convince people to not get married in the first place
  • Secularisation (only 8 per cent of people go to church on a regular basis) means the religious aspect of marriage is less important
  • Change in gender roles (women prioritising careers)
  • Social attitudes (marriage seen as unimportant)
  • The cost of weddings (average in 2021 was £17,300)
  • The cost of housing may now be a priority over marriage, if the choice is between a wedding or house deposit
• Marriage is now seen as a choice