Marriage is the legally recognised union of two people in a personal relationship. A legally
registered marriage comes with financial and government benefits and rights.
Reasons for the changing patterns of marriage
Changes in the position of women – feminist argue that a traditional marriage is seen as a Paterachal.
institutions radical feminist Germaine grey (2000) sees the decline in the population in marriage as a
positive development as more women are unwilling to accept oppression by their husbands as women
have more options and careers.
Individualism - sociologist such as Ulrich beck say there has been a growing trend towards indivialsaim
and many people make choices that benefit their personal needs rather than sticking to traditional social
norms and try to find alternatives to benefit them such as cohabitation rather than marriage. Anothong
Giddens argues that there has been a transformation of intimacy people now don’t want romantic long
lasted comment love instead there has been a growth of confluent love where Indviduasl get into
temporary fagil erelationships
Legislation such as 1975 equal pay act, 1975 sec discrimination act, 2006 equality act, abortion and
divorce laws
The changing patterns of marriage can be attributed to a confluence of social, legal, and cultural shifts
over the years. Legislation such as the 1975 Equal Pay Act, 1975 Sex Discrimination Act, and the 2006
Equality Act has played a pivotal role in reshaping societal norms by challenging traditional gender roles.
As women gained more economic independence and opportunities in the workforce, the dynamics
within marriages underwent transformation. The availability of legal rights and protections against
discrimination has empowered individuals to make choices that align with their personal aspirations
rather than conforming to traditional gender expectations. Additionally, changes in abortion and divorce
laws have given individuals greater control over their reproductive choices and the ability to exit
marriages that may not align with their evolving values and priorities. These legal reforms, combined
with broader social attitudes towards individual autonomy and gender equality, have collectively
contributed to the evolving patterns of marriage seen in contemporary society
Secularisation
Traditional religious organisations have lost their strong influence over Western society.
People no longer hold the same God-centred religious beliefs about marriage as before; for
example, people are less likely to see marriage as a match created by God.
The declining stigma around unmarried couples
It is no longer stigmatised in wider society to have children outside of marriage, which means
marriage is not a prerequisite for reproducing.
Sex and cohabitation outside of marriage are also commonly accepted in modern Western
society.
The idea of searching and waiting for the ‘right’ partner is accepted, perhaps even encouraged.
registered marriage comes with financial and government benefits and rights.
Reasons for the changing patterns of marriage
Changes in the position of women – feminist argue that a traditional marriage is seen as a Paterachal.
institutions radical feminist Germaine grey (2000) sees the decline in the population in marriage as a
positive development as more women are unwilling to accept oppression by their husbands as women
have more options and careers.
Individualism - sociologist such as Ulrich beck say there has been a growing trend towards indivialsaim
and many people make choices that benefit their personal needs rather than sticking to traditional social
norms and try to find alternatives to benefit them such as cohabitation rather than marriage. Anothong
Giddens argues that there has been a transformation of intimacy people now don’t want romantic long
lasted comment love instead there has been a growth of confluent love where Indviduasl get into
temporary fagil erelationships
Legislation such as 1975 equal pay act, 1975 sec discrimination act, 2006 equality act, abortion and
divorce laws
The changing patterns of marriage can be attributed to a confluence of social, legal, and cultural shifts
over the years. Legislation such as the 1975 Equal Pay Act, 1975 Sex Discrimination Act, and the 2006
Equality Act has played a pivotal role in reshaping societal norms by challenging traditional gender roles.
As women gained more economic independence and opportunities in the workforce, the dynamics
within marriages underwent transformation. The availability of legal rights and protections against
discrimination has empowered individuals to make choices that align with their personal aspirations
rather than conforming to traditional gender expectations. Additionally, changes in abortion and divorce
laws have given individuals greater control over their reproductive choices and the ability to exit
marriages that may not align with their evolving values and priorities. These legal reforms, combined
with broader social attitudes towards individual autonomy and gender equality, have collectively
contributed to the evolving patterns of marriage seen in contemporary society
Secularisation
Traditional religious organisations have lost their strong influence over Western society.
People no longer hold the same God-centred religious beliefs about marriage as before; for
example, people are less likely to see marriage as a match created by God.
The declining stigma around unmarried couples
It is no longer stigmatised in wider society to have children outside of marriage, which means
marriage is not a prerequisite for reproducing.
Sex and cohabitation outside of marriage are also commonly accepted in modern Western
society.
The idea of searching and waiting for the ‘right’ partner is accepted, perhaps even encouraged.
