GCSE Sociology Coursework Hypothesis

Divorce is increasing due to the change in social attitudes and increase in secularisation.

Aims

To find out the main reasons for the rise in divorce To find out how social views on divorce have changed To find out the impact of divorce on children

Introduction

I chose to investigate this topic because I think it is one of the key factors affecting the educational achievement and the youth of today. I was interested in this topic because over the past 30 years the number of divorces has rocketed, sources from Population Trends shows that from the year 1969 to 2000 the amounts of divorces have more than doubled. In 1969 the numbers of divorces were 51,310 and in 2000 the number has gone up to 141,135.

The main reasons for the rise of divorce are the increase in secularisation which is the declining importance of religion, different attitudes concerning divorce how the stigma of divorce is reduced, it is more accepted in society, media plays a part in the rise of divorce, by lifting the stigma of divorce and seeing our role models being divorced makes it seem ok. Some sociologists argue that marriage is highly valued in society, partly due to the image the media present of marriage as based on romance and happiness. People now demand more from marriage and if it does not live up to the ideal they hold then they will get divorced and try again - this explains the growing numbers of remarriages. People do not feel ashamed to be divorced anymore and it is considered a norm. The changes in the law have made divorce more easily accessible, recognisable laws such as the Divorce Reform Act which allowed the separation of a couple. Approximately 70% of divorces are initiated by women. Women today are more likely to be independent. With a good education, fewer children and a job. If they are unhappy in a marriage it is easier for them to leave and start again. I chose to research social views of divorce as one of my aims because it outlines what my hypothesis states.

Social views have changed from divorce being absolutely frowned upon and people who have had a divorce are considered to be incapable of staying in a relationship, they are the lowest of the low in society and religiously they are not in right-standing to it being a way of life and the disgrace of divorce have virtually been wiped away.

The issue of divorce is important in modern day British society it has an effect on the youth of today and of the future. It plays a big part in society because it is from the family that children are socialised to carry into society. If divorce keeps increasing at this rate, marriage could be seen as totally unimportant and pointless and this could result in a decline in our religious morals as a country.

Keywords

Divorce-Is the legal end to a marriage Cohabitation-when a couple live together but are not married Lone parent families- families with only one parent Stigma-A when A bad label is put on someone or something Secularisation- A decline in religion Conjugal roles-Roles that a husband and wife abide by in a marriage

Married partners have regular, guilt-free intimacy and provide emotional support and intimacy to each other. Their marriage is recognised by the law as well as the society and both of them have clearly defined rights and obligations. Marriage in most cases, also creates a warm and secure home where children can be reared into mature and emotionally healthy adults. Despite all the other benefits that a marriage provides, it is also a fact of life that divorce rate has reached very high proportions. In some western countries, as many as half of all new marriages are destined to end in divorce. So many divorce also have implications for future social stability. But why has divorce rate become so high since the Second World War? There

are many reasons for this. The most important ones are given below. Liberation of Women Perhaps the most crucial feature of modern age is the liberation of women. The fairer gender is no longer tied to the home. Women today get equal opportunities as men in terms of education and employment. This has made them financially independent. They are no longer dependent on men for their well being and can very well earn and take care of their needs. Since they are empowered financially, they prefer breaking off a caustic marriage and live alone with their children or enter into a new relationship. Rise of Individualism Not very long ago, a person was considered an insignificant unit of the society. Personal wishes and aspirations had to be suppressed in favour of what the society or relatives demanded from the person. The individual had hardly any control on his or her life and self-sacrifice was the rule. About 50 years ago, a sea change occurred. The individual was recognised as a living independent unit of the society and personal rights and one's own wishes and aspirations began to be considered sacred. The modern world is characterised by individualism. People today give more importance to what they are getting out of marriage rather than what their family duties are. If they think they are not satisfied with the relationship, they do not hesitate in filing for divorce and entering into a new relationship that is more to their liking. Relaxed Divorce Laws For many centuries, marriage was considered a very powerful and sacred institution that was not be taken lightly or broken easily. The will of the society was represented in the divorce laws which made it almost impossible for married partners to break off the relationship. The judges were hostile to divorce cases and considered marital separation an assault on social conscience. Over time, particularly since the 1970s, divorce laws have been relaxed in keeping with the increasing acceptance of marital separation by the society. Today, it is possible to get a divorce in as little as two months if both the partners are willing. Relaxation of Social traditions For a long time, especially since the early 19th century to mid 20th century, social norms and values were rock-hard and inflexible. The individual was expected to fully confirm to those or face a social penalty. In the last few decades, social mores have relaxed and become liberal. The acceptance level of society has become very high and today, thumbing one's nose at social

norms has become fashionable. Individuals are free to do as they wish as long as it is legal and does not breach the rights of others. Divorce is now considered a personal matter of two people and the society does not interfere at all in the process. Easy Remarriage Divorce does not raise eyebrows anymore. It is considered quite normal and acceptable. There are a huge number of divorcees in the society. Because of all this, divorce does not have much affect on the capability of people to enter new relationships. It is easy to get remarried after getting divorced, which has reduced the impact of divorce on the personal and social life of people. There are many divorcees clubs where recently divorced people can mill around and try to strike up new relationships. Easy remarriage after divorce makes married people more confident in asking for marital separation.