Explain the reasons for the increase in single-parent families in the contemporary UK (15)
A single-parent family is a family headed by one parent only, with at least one dependent child.
90% are headed by women.
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 in which we now accept more liberal ideas as
family types like single-parent families are no longer stigmatised. Goode argues that people now
accept divorce 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, nor frowned upon to have children outside of marriage. Therefore
there has been an increase in the rates of single-parent families.
The second reason is Individualisation, this is because people now have more choice 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 individual
needs.
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 which may not have
been previously found within a relationship. Consequently, alternatively, family types to the
traditional nuclear family have risen which includes single-parent families.
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. 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 previous other half. This is because, through Housing
Benefits and Child benefits, most women are encouraged to leave unhappy relationships. This
has therefore led to the decline of the traditional nuclear family nut the rise in single-parent
families.
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