Statistics/ Divorce Divorce rates have drastically increased over the last 50 years. However, more recently there has been a decline in
Sociologists divorce. ONS-107,599 divorces of opposite-sex couples in 2019, increasing by 18.4%. About 40% of marriages end in
divorce and 40% of marriages are remarriages. 7/10 petitions come from women.
Impact on children: Rogers and Pryor (1998)- only one factor causing problems for children. Hetherington (2002)- 75%
of children divorce has few negative effects. Benardes (1997)- divorce is less damaging than a negative marriage.
Marriage 1. People are getting married at an older age
2. Men are typically older than women when they get married
3. Fewer people are marrying, 1970 to 2012 no. halved
4. 2012- 30% of marriages were in a church
Cohabitation 1. 2.9 million cohabitating heterosexual couples in Britain. 1/8 adults – double the number in 1996.
2. 69,000 same-sex cohabitating couples.
3. 1/5 of cohabitators are ‘serial’ – have had many before.
4. White couples more likely to be cohabitating (16% of total white families)
Child-bearing 1. 47% of all children, double the figure in 1986 are born outside of marriage.
2. 1971 to 2012 average age of first child increased to 28 years- dependency ratio
3. 2.95 children per women n 1964 to 1.63 in 2001 to 1.94 in 2010- more beanpole families
4. ¼ of those born in 1973 will be childless when 45- voluntary childlessness
One-person 1. 2013- 3/10 households are people living alone x3 figure in 1961
households 2. 40% of all-person households are over 65- ageing population.
3. 2033- over 30% of adults will be single.
Lone-parent 1. 22% of all families with children; 90% headed by mothers.
families 2. X2 more likely to be in poverty.
Step-families 1. 10% of all families
2. 85% child is from woman’s previous marriage: 11% man’s previous relationship
3. 4% children from both relationships
4. Ferri and Smith (1998)- very similar to first families but more susceptible to poverty
Same sex Stonewall (2012)- 5 to 7% of the adult population today have same-sex relationships. 2004- Civil Partnership Act legal
relationships rights e.g. inheritance. 2013- Marriage act allowed same-sex couples to marry (since 2014). 1967- male homosexuality
decriminalised over 21.
Chosen families Weeks (1999)- friendships become a type of kinship network and support bubble. Increasing as same-sex relationships
are more common and as it is socially acceptable. Legal framework, same rights as heterosexual. Watson (1992)- same
sex-cohabitation ‘quasi-marriage’. Enasdottir (2011)- may limit flexibility of relationships.
Living apart BSA (2013)- 1 in 10 adults are in a significant relationship, but not married or cohabitating. ½ of people classified as
togethers single. Duncan and Phillips- choice (preference) and constraint (money) play a part.
Reasons for Changes in the 1. Equalising grounds between men and women (1923)
Sociologists divorce. ONS-107,599 divorces of opposite-sex couples in 2019, increasing by 18.4%. About 40% of marriages end in
divorce and 40% of marriages are remarriages. 7/10 petitions come from women.
Impact on children: Rogers and Pryor (1998)- only one factor causing problems for children. Hetherington (2002)- 75%
of children divorce has few negative effects. Benardes (1997)- divorce is less damaging than a negative marriage.
Marriage 1. People are getting married at an older age
2. Men are typically older than women when they get married
3. Fewer people are marrying, 1970 to 2012 no. halved
4. 2012- 30% of marriages were in a church
Cohabitation 1. 2.9 million cohabitating heterosexual couples in Britain. 1/8 adults – double the number in 1996.
2. 69,000 same-sex cohabitating couples.
3. 1/5 of cohabitators are ‘serial’ – have had many before.
4. White couples more likely to be cohabitating (16% of total white families)
Child-bearing 1. 47% of all children, double the figure in 1986 are born outside of marriage.
2. 1971 to 2012 average age of first child increased to 28 years- dependency ratio
3. 2.95 children per women n 1964 to 1.63 in 2001 to 1.94 in 2010- more beanpole families
4. ¼ of those born in 1973 will be childless when 45- voluntary childlessness
One-person 1. 2013- 3/10 households are people living alone x3 figure in 1961
households 2. 40% of all-person households are over 65- ageing population.
3. 2033- over 30% of adults will be single.
Lone-parent 1. 22% of all families with children; 90% headed by mothers.
families 2. X2 more likely to be in poverty.
Step-families 1. 10% of all families
2. 85% child is from woman’s previous marriage: 11% man’s previous relationship
3. 4% children from both relationships
4. Ferri and Smith (1998)- very similar to first families but more susceptible to poverty
Same sex Stonewall (2012)- 5 to 7% of the adult population today have same-sex relationships. 2004- Civil Partnership Act legal
relationships rights e.g. inheritance. 2013- Marriage act allowed same-sex couples to marry (since 2014). 1967- male homosexuality
decriminalised over 21.
Chosen families Weeks (1999)- friendships become a type of kinship network and support bubble. Increasing as same-sex relationships
are more common and as it is socially acceptable. Legal framework, same rights as heterosexual. Watson (1992)- same
sex-cohabitation ‘quasi-marriage’. Enasdottir (2011)- may limit flexibility of relationships.
Living apart BSA (2013)- 1 in 10 adults are in a significant relationship, but not married or cohabitating. ½ of people classified as
togethers single. Duncan and Phillips- choice (preference) and constraint (money) play a part.
Reasons for Changes in the 1. Equalising grounds between men and women (1923)
