Divorce
A wide range of data and developments are cited to demonstrate that the family is under stress and is even in danger of breaking up. However, it is important to note that many sociologists wholly or largely reject this thesis that the family is breaking up, and favor instead a different model of analysis and interpretation. The crux of the debate is, is the family disappearing as a social institution or is it merely transforming into a social institution, which is characterized by diversity and choice. That is, is the family dying or is it responding to the changing circumstances of what may be termed postmodern society. Postmodernism is a condition in which society is composed of many heterogeneous ideas, values and practices that coexist within a general framework. It is possible to view the recent developments in family life as part of this general trend. There are many factors to be considered when we look at the ¥changing family'; one of the key issues related to family change and adaptation is divorce.The number of divorces granted in Britain has jumped from 27,000 in 1961 to 191, in 1985; this should be compared with 3000 in 1921 and only 700 in 1911. However this information could be misleading on it's own, fact
Feminist perspectives on the family take up Engel's' theme of subjection, and explore the wide-ranging consequences of the fundamental inequality between husband and wife. This inequality stems from traditional differences in what men and women are expected to do, or conjugal role separation. Feminists say that the family is an instrument for the exploitation of women. Feminists argue that women have more to gain from divorce than staying in oppressive marriages. The New Right tend to be critical of any variation in what they perceive as traditional family values and blame all sorts of social problems on single parent families which are seen as dysfunctional and probably welfare dependent. Many critics have suggested that New Right thinkers tend to lay blame on victims for problems, which are not of their own making So, without the ¥family', would social order be maintained? The high rate of remarriage apparently lends support to Parsons and Fletchers arguments. Paradoxically, the higher value placed on marriage may result in the increased marital breakdown. Like functionalist sociologists, New Right thinkers see the family as a cornerstone of society. A strong society is built upon a strong family. They see the ¥normal family', as that of the traditional family. The New Right argues for a return to traditional family values as a remedy for many of the problems of modern society, such as juvenile delinquency, educational underachievement and child poverty. But are these really problems that have come about through the changing family. Change and diversity can be interpreted as the family being in decline or the family adapting to changing social conditions. In industrial society the family specializes in fewer functions. It can be argued, that as a result, there are fewer bonds to unite its members. N. Dennis suggests that the specialization of function that characterizes the modern family will lead to increased marital breakdown. Dennis argues that this can place a strain on the strength of the bond between husband and wife. Put simply, when the love goes, there is nothing much left to hold the couple together. In all these more subtle aspects of marriage we need more, we expect more, and we are more easily disappointed'. ¥ Edmund Leach (1969) makes a similar point. He suggests that the nuclear family suffers from an emotional overload, which increases the level of conflict between its members.
Some common words found in the essay are:
, Kathleen Kiernan, Proceedings Act, Landes Michael, Edmund Leach, Colin Gibson, Parsons Fletchers, Ronald Fletcher, Advice Act, Causes Act, marital breakdown, traditional family, divorce rates, nuclear family, isolation nuclear family, rise marital, family change, family values, single parent, increased marital breakdown, modern family, allowed couples divorce, social institution, rise marital breakdown, traditional family values,
Approximate Word count = 2088
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)
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