Divorce

Question 1

Describe the explanation for divorce- Change is the law

Answer 1

-Divorce was difficult but gradual reform made it easier
3 kinds of changes in law:
-(1923) equalising the grounds- everyone applicable for divorce
-(1949) making divorce cheaper- legal aid for divorce
-(1971) widening the grounds- easier to obtain divorce
-Also other solutions to divorce- desertion, legal separation & ‘empty shell’ marriage
-Changes in law make divorce easier but doesn’t explain why many take advantage of that

Question 2

Describe the explanation for divorce- Declining stigma and changing attitudes

Answer 2

-In past divorces have been stigmatized e.g. churches condemned divorce
-Mitchel & Goody (1997)- important change since 1960s- rapid decline in stigma
-As stigma declines divorce becomes more socially acceptable- couples resort to divorce
-Divorce more common= ‘normalises it’ and reduces stigma
-Rather than being described as ‘shameful’ its regarded as ‘misfortune’

Question 3

Describe the explanation for divorce- Secularisation

Answer 3

-Decline in influence of religion in society
-Religious ideas losing influence- society becoming more secular
-Result of secularisation- divorce carries less weight in society and people less likely to be influenced by religious teachings when making decisions on personal matters
-At same time- many churches softened views on divorce

Question 4

Describe the explanation for divorce- Rising expectations of marriage

Answer 4

-Fletcher (1966)- higher expectations on marriage= less willing to tolerate unhappy marriage
-Linked to romantic love- marriage should be based solely on love ‘Mr & Mrs Right’
-If love dies- not justification to remain married
-Contrasts past- little choice in who you marry, the family was a unit of production and marriage was largely for economic reasons- unlikely to have high expectations
-Marriage today is viewed as a relationship where individuals seek personal fulfilment

Question 5

Describe the explanation for divorce- Women’s increasing financial independence

Answer 5

-Improvements in women’s economic positions- less financial dependence on husband
-Women more likely to be in paid work
-Although women usually earn less- equal pay & anti-discrimination acts helped narrow gap
-Girl’s greater success in education helps achieve better paid jobs
-Women don’t have to tolerate conflict in the absence of love due to financial independence

Question 6

Describe the explanation for divorce- Modernity and individualisation

Answer 6

Beck & Giddens (1992)- traditional norms in modern society e.g. duty to remain with same partner for life- have lose hold over individuals
-each individual is free to pursue their own self-interest
-Relationships more fragile- individual won’t stay in relationship if gaining no personal fulfilment
-Seek ‘pure’ relationship- one that exists solely to satisfy partners needs not out of a sense of duty/tradition
-Raising divorce rates ‘normalises’ divorce and further strengthens belief that marriage exists solely to provide personal fulfilment

Question 7

Describe the explanation for divorce- Feminist explanation

Answer 7

-Married women carry dual burden-creates source of conflict between husbands and wives
-Big improvements in women’s position in public sphere- little improvement in family & relationship sphere-triple shift
-Hochschild (1997)- home compares unfavourably to work- at work women feel valued, at home mens resistance to housework causes frustration
-Mothers who carry dual burden more likely to divorce- Sigle-Rushton (2007)
-Bernard (1976) radical feminist- believes many women feel a growing dissatisfaction with a patriarchal marriage- as more files for divorce come from women- evidence of their growing feminist ideas meaning women are more conscious of patriarchal oppression and have more confidence to reject it

Question 8

What is a functionalists perspective on the high divorce rate

Answer 8

-See family as important for maintaining social stability
-High divorce rate indicates some marriages are dysfunctional
-Divorce allows people to leave unhappy marriages and form new relationships that better perform functions of the family
-Divorce shows that the family can adapt and adjust rather than remain stuck in harmful relationships

Question 9

What is the evaluation of the functionalist perspective on divorce

Answer 9

-Functionalists underestimate the negative effects of divorce on children or family stability

Question 10

What is the feminist perspective on the high divorce rate

Answer 10

-Feminists often see rising divorce rates as positive signs of women’s independence
-Women gain economic independence and challenge patriarchy- more able to leave oppressive or unhappy marriages
-Women now more likely to file for divorce than men
-Divorce can therefore reflect greater gender inequality
-Oakley- unequal division of labour within families can create tensions leading to women seeking divorce

Question 11

What is the evaluation of the feminist perspective on high divorce rates

Answer 11

-Critics argue feminists may overemphasise gender inequality and overlook other reasons for divorce

Question 12

What is the New Right perspective on high divorce rates

Answer 12

-New Right see high divorce rates as evidence of family breakdowns
-Divorce weakens traditional nuclear family and can lead to social problems e.g. lone parent families, poverty and lack of discipline for kids
-Morgan- rising divorce and family diversity undermine social stability and increase welfare dependency

Question 13

What is the evaluation of the New Right perspective on high divorce rates

Answer 13

-This perspective is too negative and idealised- it ignores that many marriages were unhappy or unequal in the past

Question 14

What is the personal life perspective on the rising divorce rates

Answer 14

-Focuses on how people experience relationships in everyday life
-Divorce doesn’t necessarily mean family life has broken down
-Instead people may create new family forms and support networks
-Family relationships can continue after divorce
-Smart- sociologists should focus on the meaning individuals attach to relationships including friendships and extended family ties

Question 15

What is the evaluation of the personal life perspective

Answer 15

-Perspective focuses too much on individual experiences that it ignores wider social structures and patterns linked to divorce such as patriarchy or capitalist exploitation

Question 16

What is the Interactionist perspective on the high divorce rate

Answer 16

-Focus on meanings individuals attach to divorce
-Divorce is seen as a failure by some but as a new opportunity or freedom by others
-Depends on how the individuals interpret their relationship
-Garfinkel- social reality is influenced and created through everyday interactions and shared meanings- the significance of divorce depends on how individuals define their marriage

Question 17

What is the evaluation of the Interactionist perspective on high divorce rates

Answer 17

Approach criticized for focusing on small scale experiences which can ignore broader social trends or structural factors

Question 18

What is the postmodernist/ Individualist perspective on high divorce rates

Answer 18

-Modern relationships are based on individual choice and personal fulfilment
-People are less likely to stay in unhappy marriages and more likely to prioritise self identity and happiness
-High divorce rates reflect greater freedom and individualism
-Giddens- modern relationships are ‘pure relationships’ which continue only while providing emotional satisfaction

Question 19

What is the evaluation of the postmodernist/ individualist perspective on high divorce rates

Answer 19

The perspective overestimates how much freedom people actually have- economic factors & social pressures still influence relationships