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A Level increased cohabitation 15 mark essay - Sociology
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Example essay revolving around the reasons for the increase in cohabitation in A Level Sociology that scored 13/15
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Explain the increase in cohabitation in the contemporary (15)This is where there is two or more people parenting a child. They may or may not having
previously been in a romantic relationship and include both heterosexual and homosexual
people.
One reason is secularisation, Functionalists believe that there has been a decline in religious
beliefs and practices which has led to a change in our moral values. This means the church has
lost its power to influence individuals morally we now accept more liberal ideas as family types
like cohabitation are no longer stigmatised. Goode argues that people now accept cohabitation
as a part of normal life rather than viewing it as a sin, previously seen as scandalous. Wilson
would support Goode's idea, as through the decline in religion, the belief that people should stay
married is irrelevant. No longer seen as sinful to live in family types outside the traditional
nuclear family. Therefore there has been an increase in the rates of cohabitation.
The second reason is Individualisation, this is because people now have more choices and
freedom within society as social stigmatisation has fallen. Postmodernists believe that there has
been an increase in individualisation as people are less influenced by societal norms and
values.
This would allow individuals to be more driven to live in a way that benefits their own needs.
Beck argues that such choice and freedom have allowed the renegotiation of family relations,
eg.
Cohabitation, in an attempt to find a middle ground. New Right Popenoe believe that there has
been an increase in the emphasis on their personal and emotional needs for self-fulfilment over
community and shared goals. Consequently, alternatively, family types to the traditional nuclear
family have risen which includes cohabitation.
The last reason is legislation, through the implementation of family legislation, The Divorce
Reform Act, which meant individuals no longer had to prove one partner was guilty. This made
divorce easier on the grounds of the 'irretrievable breakdown' of marriage which meant that if
couples agreed to divorce they only needed to be separated for two years before the marriage
was terminated. This therefore made it easier for individuals to co-parent. Feminists therefore
saw this legal change in a positive light as it promotes gender equality. With the implementation
of welfare legislation, New Right Murray argues that the welfare system is over-generous which
has led to greater family diversity. This is because it has made it possible for individuals to live
outside the traditional nuclear family as they are no longer financially dependent on their other
half. This is because through Child benefits women, mostly, are encouraged to leave unhappy
relationships.
This has therefore led to the decline of the traditional nuclear family and the rise in cohabitation.
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