TASK 1: Explanations for the increase in divorce since the 1960’s.
Sociology can contribute to our understanding of the patterns of divorce. Complete the following grid on the different explanations for divorce trends.
Explanation Key points of this explanation (AO1) Evidence/ studies/ thinkers (AO2) Analysis/Evaluation (AO3)
1. Changes in the laws of divorce have changed to become • 1969: The ‘Divorce Law Reform Act’ The changes in the law have allowed
law easier (widening the grounds for divorce), made irretrievable breakdown of people freedom to divorce more
cheaper and equalising the grounds for marriage acceptable as the sole grounds easily but this itself does not explain
divorce between sexes. for divorce - but only after two years of why more people should choose to
being seperated. take advantage of this freedom.
2. Declining stigma in the past divorce has been stigmatised but Mitchell and Goody note that an The stigma however has not
and changing now as the stigma declines and becomes important change since the 1960s has completely disappeared as it is still
attitudes more socially acceptable, more couples are been the rapid decline in stigma attached socially unacceptable in other
willing to resort to it to solve their martial to divorce. cultures.
problems. Rather than being seen as
shameful it is more likely to be seen as a
misfortune.
3. Secularisation This is the decline of the influence of religion Church attendance rates continue to it could be argued that religion is
in society and as a result the traditional decline becoming an increasingly significant
opposition of the churches to divorce carries part in peoples lives as more people
less weight in society. are converting.
4. Rising Higher expectations of couple as they now Argues by Fletcher Feminists argue that oppression of
expectations of seek divorce if they’re unable to seek women is the main cause and that
marriage personal fulfilment and see it less as a In past individuals had little choice in functionalists fail to explain why it is
binding contract and have higher their marriage as family was a unit of mainly women who seek a divorce.
expectations on what they expect from their production but now marriage is seen as a
marriage. romantic union of two people.
Sociology can contribute to our understanding of the patterns of divorce. Complete the following grid on the different explanations for divorce trends.
Explanation Key points of this explanation (AO1) Evidence/ studies/ thinkers (AO2) Analysis/Evaluation (AO3)
1. Changes in the laws of divorce have changed to become • 1969: The ‘Divorce Law Reform Act’ The changes in the law have allowed
law easier (widening the grounds for divorce), made irretrievable breakdown of people freedom to divorce more
cheaper and equalising the grounds for marriage acceptable as the sole grounds easily but this itself does not explain
divorce between sexes. for divorce - but only after two years of why more people should choose to
being seperated. take advantage of this freedom.
2. Declining stigma in the past divorce has been stigmatised but Mitchell and Goody note that an The stigma however has not
and changing now as the stigma declines and becomes important change since the 1960s has completely disappeared as it is still
attitudes more socially acceptable, more couples are been the rapid decline in stigma attached socially unacceptable in other
willing to resort to it to solve their martial to divorce. cultures.
problems. Rather than being seen as
shameful it is more likely to be seen as a
misfortune.
3. Secularisation This is the decline of the influence of religion Church attendance rates continue to it could be argued that religion is
in society and as a result the traditional decline becoming an increasingly significant
opposition of the churches to divorce carries part in peoples lives as more people
less weight in society. are converting.
4. Rising Higher expectations of couple as they now Argues by Fletcher Feminists argue that oppression of
expectations of seek divorce if they’re unable to seek women is the main cause and that
marriage personal fulfilment and see it less as a In past individuals had little choice in functionalists fail to explain why it is
binding contract and have higher their marriage as family was a unit of mainly women who seek a divorce.
expectations on what they expect from their production but now marriage is seen as a
marriage. romantic union of two people.
