Module number: SOC-20041
Student number: 22033069
Module title: Families and Households: Diversity and Change
Discuss how the definition of 'family' has changed over time using the
deinstitutionalization of marriage theory.
The concept of family today has expanded beyond the traditional view of family. The term is
no longer limited to an image that conjures the meaning of family as biological relatedness or
people in co-residence (Smart, 2007). This reflection will discuss the evolution of ‘family’ by
exploring the concept of deinstitutionalisation of marriage theory and looking at data closely
on marriage, cohabitation and same-sex marriage. This reflection will then conclude on how
the concept of family is becoming more fluid as societal norms are changing.
Deinstitutionalization is defined by Cherlin (2004) as the weakening of social norms that we
abide by in an institution like marriage. The deinstitutionalization of marriage theory argues
that marriage is not necessarily in decline but social expectations and approaches to marriage
are changing. Burgess and Locke (1945) argue that there are two main transitions that have
led to the deinstitutionalization of marriage. There is a first transition from an institutional
marriage to a companionate marriage, which refers to the single earner marriage that was
prevalent in the 1950s, where women found fulfilment through the participation in a nuclear
family. Since the 1960s, companionate marriage has lost not only its status as a demographic
norm, but also as a cultural ideal. As a result, this transition led to the second transition of
individualised marriages, in which both spouses work outside of the home and where gender
and traditional roles are no longer strictly observed. The rise of independence in women can
be argued to affect women’s roles and choices as society is developing (Klement and
Rudolph, 2009).
There is a significant amount of data that supports the decrease in marriages which can be
argued to affect the traditional structure of the family. In 2020, there were 85,770 marriages
1
, Module number: SOC-20041
Student number: 22033069
Module title: Families and Households: Diversity and Change
which is 61% lower than 2019, and the lowest number of marriages since 1838. The number
of marriages that had a civil ceremony made up 80% of marriages in 2019, while religious
marriages only made up 15% which is one in five marriages (Sharman and Cobb, 2023). In
addition, the Census data also shows that not only religious ceremonies are decreasing but
also that the average age for first-time marriages is increasing. Thus, it can be implied that
norms that were socially acceptable in the past for women such as getting married at a young
age and having a religious ceremony are becoming less popular. The above data can also be
linked to cultural practices such as arranged marriages in South Asian families. Arranged
marriages are deeply ingrained in South Asian societies and is seen as a socially acceptable
way to find a partner. However, there is recent research that suggests arranged marriages are
becoming increasingly risky (Qureshi et al 2012). This might be because societal attitudes
towards marriage and family are evolving. This could be seen to reflect the changing values
in society, and the change in the way people get married. Thus, challenging and changing the
concept of traditional marriage and families. Cohabitation has also contributed to the
evolution of the concept of family. According to Massingham (2023) there has been a 144%
increase in cohabitating couples between 1996 and 2021. This indicates an increasing number
of couples who are living together without formalising their relationship. It also indicates a
change in society's view of what constitutes a meaningful relationship. Furthermore,
cohabitation adds an additional layer of complexity to the concept of family. This is because
research by Cherlin (2004) suggested that nearly all stepfamilies were formed by the
remarriage of one or both spouses. This implies that non-traditional forms of relationships are
becoming more prevalent and reflects how diversity in the concept of family means the
changing norms of what constitutes a family. Cherlin’s (2004) research also suggests that
cohabitation is a more common living arrangement among low-income families. This could
2
Student number: 22033069
Module title: Families and Households: Diversity and Change
Discuss how the definition of 'family' has changed over time using the
deinstitutionalization of marriage theory.
The concept of family today has expanded beyond the traditional view of family. The term is
no longer limited to an image that conjures the meaning of family as biological relatedness or
people in co-residence (Smart, 2007). This reflection will discuss the evolution of ‘family’ by
exploring the concept of deinstitutionalisation of marriage theory and looking at data closely
on marriage, cohabitation and same-sex marriage. This reflection will then conclude on how
the concept of family is becoming more fluid as societal norms are changing.
Deinstitutionalization is defined by Cherlin (2004) as the weakening of social norms that we
abide by in an institution like marriage. The deinstitutionalization of marriage theory argues
that marriage is not necessarily in decline but social expectations and approaches to marriage
are changing. Burgess and Locke (1945) argue that there are two main transitions that have
led to the deinstitutionalization of marriage. There is a first transition from an institutional
marriage to a companionate marriage, which refers to the single earner marriage that was
prevalent in the 1950s, where women found fulfilment through the participation in a nuclear
family. Since the 1960s, companionate marriage has lost not only its status as a demographic
norm, but also as a cultural ideal. As a result, this transition led to the second transition of
individualised marriages, in which both spouses work outside of the home and where gender
and traditional roles are no longer strictly observed. The rise of independence in women can
be argued to affect women’s roles and choices as society is developing (Klement and
Rudolph, 2009).
There is a significant amount of data that supports the decrease in marriages which can be
argued to affect the traditional structure of the family. In 2020, there were 85,770 marriages
1
, Module number: SOC-20041
Student number: 22033069
Module title: Families and Households: Diversity and Change
which is 61% lower than 2019, and the lowest number of marriages since 1838. The number
of marriages that had a civil ceremony made up 80% of marriages in 2019, while religious
marriages only made up 15% which is one in five marriages (Sharman and Cobb, 2023). In
addition, the Census data also shows that not only religious ceremonies are decreasing but
also that the average age for first-time marriages is increasing. Thus, it can be implied that
norms that were socially acceptable in the past for women such as getting married at a young
age and having a religious ceremony are becoming less popular. The above data can also be
linked to cultural practices such as arranged marriages in South Asian families. Arranged
marriages are deeply ingrained in South Asian societies and is seen as a socially acceptable
way to find a partner. However, there is recent research that suggests arranged marriages are
becoming increasingly risky (Qureshi et al 2012). This might be because societal attitudes
towards marriage and family are evolving. This could be seen to reflect the changing values
in society, and the change in the way people get married. Thus, challenging and changing the
concept of traditional marriage and families. Cohabitation has also contributed to the
evolution of the concept of family. According to Massingham (2023) there has been a 144%
increase in cohabitating couples between 1996 and 2021. This indicates an increasing number
of couples who are living together without formalising their relationship. It also indicates a
change in society's view of what constitutes a meaningful relationship. Furthermore,
cohabitation adds an additional layer of complexity to the concept of family. This is because
research by Cherlin (2004) suggested that nearly all stepfamilies were formed by the
remarriage of one or both spouses. This implies that non-traditional forms of relationships are
becoming more prevalent and reflects how diversity in the concept of family means the
changing norms of what constitutes a family. Cherlin’s (2004) research also suggests that
cohabitation is a more common living arrangement among low-income families. This could
2
