Marriage and the Family Changing attitudes to cohabitation and marriage.

In the UK in the 60’s People were expected to only have sex after marriage People married young in church for life Families were husband and wife and children Male homosexuality was a criminal offence

How attitudes have changed Today: Most people have sex before they are married Most couples live together rather than marry Most households are not headed by married couples Most marriage do not take place in church Divorce is accepted as normal part of life More children are being brought up by cohabiting parents

What are the reasons for this change Effective contraception made it safer to have sex before marriage. Fewer people went to church

Key Facts Fifty years ago, most people only had sex in marriage, and they married in church. Today, most people have sex before they marry, fewer people marry, cohabitation is acceptable and only a minority of marriages take place in church.

Key Words Cohabitation: living together without being married. Marriage: a man and a woman legally joined so that they are allowed to live together and, usually have children. Civil partnership a legal ceremony giving a homosexual couple the same legal right as a husband and wife

Family life GCSE practice A) What is cohabitation (2) B) Do you think sex outside marriage is wrong? Give two reasons for your opinion (4) C) Choose one religion other than Christianity and explain why some of its followers agree with divorce and some not? (8) D) “cohabitation is the same as marriage” Do you agree? (i) give 3 reasons for your opinion (3) (ii) Give 3 reasons why some people may disagree with you (3) In your answer refer to at least one religion