♥Changing Family Patterns- Divorce♥

Divorce

When talking about divorce there is 5 main reasons as to why divorce is on the increase.

• Changes in the LAW - divorce has become easier to obtain through the introduction of various laws and legal aid which allow thoe seven in poor families to get  a divorce if they want one
• Declining stigma and changing attidudes towards divorce - People don't view divorce as a negative in the law the society has now accepted it which has meant that people now feel comfortable with getting a divore where as in the past tehy wouldn't even tell their friends and families.
• Secularisation- People in the current society have increasingly lost interest in religion, society nowadays has become more driven by technology and the media rather than religion which would suggest that marrige isnt taken seriously any more thus when vows are broken less guilt is felt as their vows werent spoken to God as well as their partner.
• Rising expectations of Marrige- The society in which we live in creates an ideological idea of a 'big white wedding' with flowers and really that idea is unobtainable by those whom are not in the midde and upper classes.
• Changes in the Position of Women- women can now work which enables them to support them selves and welfare benefits are now also available whoch means women dont have to rely on a man for their financial support as they can do so them selves.

One Law that is important when discussing divorce becoming easier is the Divorce Law Reform Act (1969) this made the 'irretrievable breakdown of marrige' the sole ground for divorce, established by providing unreasonalble behaviour, adultery, desertion, or seperation withe with or without consent. Back in the 70's divorce was available after two years agreed seperation of 5 years if only one spouce wanted a divorce.

In 1984 the minimum period of marrige before divorce was brought down from 3 to 1 year.

Mitchell and Goody (1997) believe that divorce has been on the rapid increse since the 60's decline in stigma attached to divorce, it has become more socially accepted to get a divorce without being ashamed about.

It has been found that weddings in the UK where the ceremony is religious is on theecline this number was only at 35% in 2009 which suggest that secularisation is on the increase however marrige is still important to some people in our societies.

Fletcher(1966) argues that because of such high expectations of marrige today are the cause behing such high divorce rates and couples have created such a high expectation of marrige being a happy and loving enviroment that they are less likely to tolerate an unhappy marrige. An example of this is The 72 day marrige of Kim Kardashian and Chris Humpheries. Crow(2001) stated that

love, personal commitment and intrinsic satisfaction are now seen as the cornerstones of marrige. The absence of these feeling is itself justification of ending the relationship

Wich suggest that marrige is often percieved as the unobtainable image of a fairytale marrige taht isnt really anymore.

Gibson(1994) Secularisation has loosened rigid moral views of people morally unacceptable to some people. Religion is not as imporant to people, so getting marrige and only having one partner for life is also not as important but a third of weddings in britain are religious ones.so religions are still important to some people.

Same Sex Couples.

Stonewall (2008) estimate that about 5-7% of the adult population are in the same-sex relationships. This number is probaly unrepresentative of the population as not everyone likes to disscuss sexual preference.

Weeks(1999) argues that increased social acceptance may explain the increase in same sex cohabitaion and stable relationships resemble thoes of heterosexual couples. he describes same sex families as places of security and stablility the same as thoes in heterosexual families.

Weston(1992) describes same sex cohabitation as a 'quasi-marrige'and notes that many gay couples aer now deciding to cohabit as stabe partners.

Cheal(2002) notes that while many gay and lesbian couples welcome the oppurtunity to have their partnerships leggally recognised , others fear that it may limit the flexibility and negotiability in relationships.

Some laws influencing same sex relatiopnships are here.

Civil Partnerships

Same Sex Marrige