100% satisfaction guarantee Immediately available after payment Both online and in PDF No strings attached
logo-home
A-Level AQA Families and Households - Reasons For Increase In Divorce Essay (18/20: A*) £2.99
Add to cart

Essay

A-Level AQA Families and Households - Reasons For Increase In Divorce Essay (18/20: A*)

 22 views  0 purchase
  • Institution
  • AQA

An essay answering a families and households question regarding the reasons for the increase in divorce rates in the UK. Includes the question, item and answer.

Preview 1 out of 2  pages

  • June 9, 2023
  • 2
  • 2022/2023
  • Essay
  • Unknown
  • A+
All documents for this subject (14)
avatar-seller
SELALevels
Read Item D below and answer the question which follows:


Item D

Sociologists suggest a number of explanations for the increase in divorces. Some suggest
that a key factor is the changing role of women in society. Today they are much more likely
to be financially independent and career-focused and therefore do not feel reliant on a
husband for security.

However, others would point to alternative factors, such as legislative changes, as being
more important.


Applying material from Item D and your own knowledge, evaluate the view that female
emancipation is the main reason for the high number of divorces in the UK today (20 marks).

According to Item D, the reason for a high number of divorce is due to the ‘changing role of
women in society’. The feminist movement - with sociologists such as Oakley and Greer -
identifies that women are more liberated in a post-modern society, as 75% of divorce
applications are made by women. Radical feminists in particular would view this as a positive
advancement as it suggests that women are breaking free from the patriarchal oppression of
the family, and women are therefore no longer ‘sleeping with the enemy’. This high rate of
divorce may also be held accountable to the Equal Pay Act 1970 and the Sex Discrimination
Act 1975, in which women feel much more liberated and protected by the state. However,
this female emancipation may not apply to ethnic minority working class women, as they
may not feel ‘financially independent’ (Item D). This may be due to the class and racial
oppression they face in employment - due to institutional racism. They are more likely to
remain married for financial reasons. Overall, female emancipation is the main reason for
high divorce rates in the UK.

On the other hand, it may be argued that secularisation is the main reason for the high
divorce rate. According to Goody and Gibson, secularisation is so prominent within
post-modern society that marriage is no longer a sacred or spiritual union. People are less
influenced by the state’s opposition to divorce, as people are becoming more secular. This
has been reflected in changing social norms and attitudes, in which people are no longer
viewing divorce and divorcees as blasphemous, rather viewing divorce as a misfortunate
event. However, this may not apply to the upper class - such as the royal family - as they are
still religious due to it being traditional and conservative. They are not secular due to their
traditional and generational religious norms and values. Overall, secularisation may be the
main reason for high divorce rates in the UK, and not female emancipation.

On the other hand, according to Item D, alternative factors such as ‘legislative changes’ may
be the reason for high divorce rates in the UK. Following the Divorce Reform Act 1972,
marriage has been made easier due to cheaper costs, the equalisation of grounds for both
men and women, and the widening of grounds for divorce (for example, with ‘empty shell
marriages’). These legal changes allow couples that statistics do not represent - such as
those separated but not divorced - to file for a divorce and find self-liberation. This is an
advancement that postmodernists such as Beck like as it allows people to treat relationships
as a process of self-discovery. However, this legal change may not be experienced by the

The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:

Guaranteed quality through customer reviews

Guaranteed quality through customer reviews

Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.

Quick and easy check-out

Quick and easy check-out

You can quickly pay through credit card for the summaries. There is no membership needed.

Focus on what matters

Focus on what matters

Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!

Frequently asked questions

What do I get when I buy this document?

You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.

Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?

Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.

Who am I buying these notes from?

Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller SELALevels. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.

Will I be stuck with a subscription?

No, you only buy these notes for £2.99. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.

Can Stuvia be trusted?

4.6 stars on Google & Trustpilot (+1000 reviews)

51292 documents were sold in the last 30 days

Founded in 2010, the go-to place to buy revision notes and other study material for 15 years now

Start selling
£2.99
  • (0)
Add to cart
Added