WJEC AS Unit SY1, Families and Culture Divorce Acknowledgement: the work of Eleri Roberts contributed significantly to the content of this slide show.

Families and Culture Chapter /10/2015 Objectives of Chapter 8 Having viewed this slide show you should be aware: That during the last century, the divorce rate increased dramatically. That the divorce rate refers to the number of divorces per thousand married couples. That divorce peaked in1993 at 180,000 per annum. Currently, one in every two new marriages ends in divorce (51.5%). That many couples separate without divorcing. That large numbers of empty shell marriages exist. That high divorce rates are a global phenomenon.

Families and Culture Chapter /10/2015 Introduction Marriage is a legal agreement between two people that can only be legally terminated through divorce. In 1911, there were just 859 divorce applications. The divorce rate is beginning to fall simply because fewer people are getting married.

Families and Culture Chapter /10/2015 Recent Trends in Divorce In 2006 divorce rate fell for a second consecutive year and by 7 per cent compared with 2005 In past 20 years the average age at divorce has risen ( for men) and ( for women), partly reflecting the rise in age at marriage.

Families and Culture Chapter /10/ Long-term Divorce Rates in the UK This graph shows the dramatic increase in divorce in the latter part of the last century. Note the dramatic growth in 1971 explained by the Divorce Reform Act discussed on a later slide.

Families and Culture Chapter /10/2015 Serial Divorce 1 in 5 men and women divorcing in 2006 had a previous marriage ending in divorce. This proportion has doubled in 25 years.

Families and Culture Chapter /10/2015 Who Gets Divorced? Social class: the lower the social class of the husband, the more likely of divorcing (n.b. divorce is still common in all social classes). Age: couples who marry young are more likely to get divorced (n.b. divorce is common in all age groups) Unemployment, dependency on benefits and low income are all linked to high divorce rates.

Families and Culture Chapter /10/2015 Who Gets Divorced (continued) Second marriages are more likely to end in divorce than first marriages. Mixed-class, ethnicity or religion can cause marital problems. Couples may have less in common and experience a lack of acceptance from their families.

Families and Culture Chapter /10/2015 Nick Hart Nicky Hart (1976) suggests that there are three key factors to consider in an analysis of increasing divorce rates: 1. Opportunities to escape marriage. 2. Opportunities for increased conflict and stress. 3. Changing values concerning marriage. She argues divorce needs to be understood in terms of both macro-factors (society-influenced) and micro- factors (individual factors).

Families and Culture Chapter /10/2015 Divorce Law Time Line 1857 Matrimonial Causes Act - Divorce available for the first time. But not for women or the working class Women received equality with men and began getting custody of children. Legal Aid and Advice Act - Legal Aid became available for divorces Law extended grounds for divorce: adultery, cruelty and desertion Legal to re- marry in churches. Divorce Reform Act - ‘No Fault’ divorce after 2 years separation if mutually agreed. 5 years if only one person agreed Matrimonial and Family Proceedings Act - Easier to divorce in early stages of marriage Divorce after one year of separation. Copyright Stacey Osborne, used with permission

Families and Culture Chapter /10/ Divorce Reform Act The Divorce Reform Act (1971) introduced the no-fault divorce. Couples can quickly get divorced on grounds that their marriage has ‘irretrievably broken down’. Evidence for this was living apart for 2 years (or 5 years if one partner objected). Divorce now became a “rubber stamp” process.

Families and Culture Chapter /10/2015 Divorce and Changes to the Law Clearly changes to the law have resulted in an increase in the divorce rate. But the divorce rate has risen at times when there have been no legislative changes e.g. during the 1960s. Legislative changes do not, in themselves, explain why more people choose to get divorced.

Families and Culture Chapter /10/2015 Increased Marital Stress and Conflict More women are dissatisfied with the unfair division of labour inside the family. Where both partners work, who acts as a ‘stabiliser of adult personalities’ (Talcott Parsons) now? Financial problems, increasing debt, pressures to have a high material living standard can all undermine relationships.

Families and Culture Chapter /10/2015 Changing Attitudes Divorce used to be regarded as sinful but with the decline in the influence of religion this attitude is outdated. Even though the Catholic Church does not recognise divorce its influence is weakening. However, note how divorce is still rarer amongst many ethnic groups where religion is stronger.

Families and Culture Chapter /10/2015 Over-high Expectations? Functionalists like Ronald Fletcher argue that people expect more out of marriage and family life than they used to. Couples are no longer prepared to be part of ‘empty-shell marriages’. Therefore divorce is more common.

Families and Culture Chapter /10/2015 William Goode William Goode argues that marriage has become an occurrence for more emotional reasons. In the past, people married for practical reasons, and the fact that partners did not love each other wasn't a problem.

Families and Culture Chapter /10/2015 Anthony Giddens Anthony Giddens (1992) sees shift towards what he calls ‘confluent love’(close and emotion). This is in marked contrast to feelings of duty and obligation as reflected in traditional marriage vows ' "For better for worse, for richer for poorer,...as long as we both shall live".

Families and Culture Chapter /10/2015 Modernism and Individualism Colin Gibson (1994) argues modernism with its emphasis on individual achievement raises expectations of personal satisfaction. Allan and Crow (2001) argue that marriage is more a relationship than an agreement. Couples look for love, satisfaction, and commitment and recognise marriage doesn't have to be a relationship that lasts forever.

Families and Culture Chapter /10/2015 “For the sake of the children” In the past, couples stayed together 'for the sake of the children.' Today, many accept that children are better off with a single parent, rather than with two parents who are arguing. See slide 27 for alternative view Mavis Hetherington (2002) says negative effects of divorce have been exaggerated.

Families and Culture Chapter /10/2015 Changes in Women’s Position Three-quarters of divorce applications come from women. Women expect more out of a marriage than men and have less to gain from empty-shell marriages. Allan and Crow say that opportunities for women have improved in the past 50 years, e.g. they are economically more independent.

Families and Culture Chapter /10/2015 Women and Divorce Feminists say that the increase in the divorce rate is a reflection of what is wrong with the traditional patriarchal marriage. Divorced men are more likely to re-marry than divorced women. According to Diana Gittins (1993) this is because women are disillusioned with marriage.

Families and Culture Chapter /10/2015 Women and the Labour Market Nicky Hart (1976) says that the rise in the working women has put more strain on marriages. The increase in the divorce rate suggests that women want a better bargain out of marriage. Employment (and welfare) offers women opportunities to live independently of men.

Families and Culture Chapter /10/2015 Conclusions Marital breakdown in Britain has been and will be significantly affected by: 1. What happens to female labour markets. 2. What level of state support is granted to one-parent families. 3. What changes to patterns and expectations of male- female domestic relationships emerge.

Families and Culture Chapter /10/2015 Divorce and Children Compare content to slide 21 New Right see divorce as being detrimental to children and parents should stay together. Rodgers and Pryor (1998) argue children of divorced or separated parents experience more poverty, poor housing, behavioural problems, teenage pregnancy, and educational underachievement. If children have no contact with one parent, it is harder to cope and moving in with a step-family can cause problems.

Families and Culture Chapter /10/2015 Divorce and Society New Right see high divorce rates resulting in female-headed one parent families as a threat to society. Boys, in particular, grow up without disciplinary figure and a role model. Patricia Morgan (1999) sees a direct link between the divorce rates and an increase in the crime rates. Feminists challenge these ideas as a ‘backlash’ arguing it is the quality not quantity of parenting that matters.