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Changing Family Patterns

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Changing family patterns
Divorce
* 1969/71 – divorce reform act – women had the right to divorce, this was because a lot of marriages were irretrievable, which led to breakdowns. * This caused a massive increase in the divorce rate, the divorce rate has continued to rise but we have recently seen a decline.
Why – change in the law in 1971 * Secularisation – refers to the decline in the influence of religion. * The position of women – women are now financially independent, they have more career opportunities, and girls have a greater success in education. * People have a high expectation of marriage make couples less willing to tolerate an unhappy marriage ( romantic love – marriage should solely be about love) * Decline in the stigma ( negative attitudes towards divorce)
Childbearing
* Women are now having children later (careers ) * More women are remaining childless (pursing their career, and children are a burden) * 4 in 10 kids born outside of marriage.
Why
* Women now have greater career opportunities ( trying the break through the glass ceiling) * Children are an economic liability ( we live in a child centred society) * Men and women now have choice and are not being forced into a shotgun marriage due to unwanted children. This has been combated by contraception and abortion. * There is an increase in cohabitation ( an unmarried couple in a sexual relationship living together) ( this is known as the trial marriages and young people often see it as an alternative) fewer 1st marriages .

Partnerships
Marriage
* There has been a decline in first marriages – less stigma associated with cohabitation, women’s changing position ( they are more financially independent) fear of divorce, alternatives to marriage ) * Re – marriage is on the increase – serial monogamy. Decline in stigma,

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