Marriage Patterns

• Define Marriage


  A legal union between 2 partners
• Why has the number of heterosexual marriages fallen since 1972 ?


  - Fallen by 50%

  
  

  - Female independence

  - Changing social norms/expectations

  - Secularisation

  - Contraception (having children outside of marriage is more accepted, less "shotgun" weddings)
• Why has the average age of 1st marriage increased ?

  - Increased to 32-34

  
  

  - Increased life expectancy

  - Changing social expectations

  - Expensive

  - More acceptable for women to prioritise education/career before marriage
• Why have religious ceremonies decreased?

  - Fewer than 1 in 5 couples have a religious ceremony

  
  

  - Secularisation: Less people are religious, less pressure to have a religious ceremony

  - Same sex marriages banned in the Church of England Churches

  - More wedding venue options
• What are the 4 main reasons for changing patterns in marriage?

  1. Changing roles of women

  2. Changing social attitudes

  3. Growing secularisation

  4. "Reducing Risk"
• how is the changing role of women changing patterns of marriage

  - Women are more successful than men in education = postpone families and focus on career instead

  
  

  - Women's expectations of marriage has changed- less likely to accept demands to be a housewife

  
  

  - Growing financial independence= no need to rely on partner
• How is changing social attitudes changing patterns of marriage

  - Young people more likely to cohabit instead
• How is growing secularisation changing patterns of marriage

  - Religious morals decreasing (e.g. sex outside marriage is wrong)

  - Less people are religious

  - Marriage & cohabitation more of an individual choice than religious union now
• How is "reducing risk" changing patterns of marriage

  (Postmodernist view)

  - Beck: living in a 'risk society' as we are less controlled by traditional institutions (families) = less loyalty to idea of marriage

  
  

  - More consumer choice: pros / cons, can choose to avoid the 'risk' with marriage
• Define cohabitation


  An unmarried couple in a sexual relationship living together
• what % of adults are cohabiting

  24.3&
• 3 different meanings of cohabitation to different people

  1. temporary, informal arrangement

  2. Alternative to marriage- long term, stable, committed

  3. Trial marriage
• Is cohabitation just another word for marriage?

  YES- Coast: 75% of cohabiting couples say they plan to marry

  
  

  NO- Bejin: can represent a conscious effort amongst young people to create a more equal relationship than a conventional marriage
• What did Shelton & John find about cohabiting and housework?

  Women who cohabit do less housework than married women
• What are LAT relationships?

  Living apart together

  Irene Levin

  - long term, committed relationships choosing to live a part
• 3 Main reasons why people choose LATs

  1. Responsibility of care: have to look after family member or children & don't want new relationship to interfere

  
  

  2. Practical reasons: work/study in different places

  
  

  3. Risk: ex married ppl don't want to repeat mistakes