Marriage
Traditionally in the UK it was monogamous and for life
Increasingly UK society is moving towards a social trend
People are more likely to establish a series of monogamous long-term relationship so minority in 2012 so most likely due to secularisation
Most weddings in 2012 civil ceremonies carried in approved buildings such as hotels or stately homes
Register office weddings are in decline
Facts and Figures
Since 1970 the number of marriages has significantly declined from 470’549 in 1940 to 262’240 in 2012 which declined due to population is a lot more
Marriage Is postponed to later ages
Average age has increased such as 1972 was 28 or 26 but in 2012 it has been increased to 36 and 34
91% of woman born in 1940 were married by 30 compared to 77% born in 1960 and only 37% orn in 1980
Increasingly proportion of marriages in 2012, 34% were remarried
A third involving someone who had previously been divorced
In 1940, only 9% had one or both been married before
Divorced was rare until the 1970s increased after the 1969 under the divorce reform act which was effective in January 1971
Divorced rather than widowed
New Right
Identified 3 main reasons for decline in marriage:
- Rector claims that the benefits system encourages single parenthood at the expenses of married parenthood so reduces the financial need for marriage
- Secularisation so in decline in religious beliefs and practice
Marriage vows are no longer sacred and traditional ideas so life-long commitment
- claim cohabitation is increasingly seen as an alternative to marriage
Feminist
Argue there is a decline in marriage rates that the UK has experienced over the last 40 years
Reflects a positive change marriage
4 strands:
- Men and woman delaying it so regarded as the primary rate of passage so required great emotional commitment
- British social attitudes surveys indicate people see marriage as the most desirable life goals so gold standard of relationship
- 40% of all marriages are remarriages so popular as a social institution despite negative experiences
- Decline has been exaggerated by the new right
In 2012, 67% of families in the UK were headed by a marriage couple
Approximately 21 million people are married
Majority of woman in the UK – 84% – are married by their 40th birthday
Cohabitation
Refers to those who live together outside marriage or a civil partnership
Exist in the past but frowned upon and regarded as sinful and immoral
Common among lower classes for when someone married was less
Marriage in the UK has decreased since 1970 so number of cohabitations has increases
Facts and Figures
On average 4 years before getting married so research shows 80% who marry have cohabitated before
Since 1990s people aged 16 were living together outside of marriage has almost doubled from 6.5% in 1996 to 11.7% in 2012
Over 65s increased
2’893’000 were opposite sex 2014
69’000 were same sex in 2012
39% were married are more likely to have 1 or 2
Childbearing increased to 30% between 2004 and 2014 so recognised by government as fastest growing family type in UK
Cohabitation is how 16.4% of UK families
New Right
Sociologists such as Morgan claim cohabitation is less stable then marriage
Refers to it as marriage life so evidence suggest they are less happy and less fulfilled than marriage couples so more likely to be abusive, unfaithful stressed and depressed so split up
Beaujouana and Ni Bhrolonian (2011)
Used data from general household’s survey
Become the norm with 80% who marry when previously cohabitated in 2004 to 2007 so spent 4 years previously so compared to 30% in 1980 to 1984
2/3 aged 25 to 44 have cohabitated so no longer seen as socially deviant or immoral
Cohabitation has strengthened marriage and the material relationship, so tests of compatibility makes it less likely to break down into divorce
Popularity of marriage has declined, proportion of people reaching their 40s who enter long term commitment choose not too many as marriages ending in divorce by their 5th anniversary
Practical reasons so evidence shows poorer countries, cohabitation will provide living arrangements so reflects economic uncertainty
Low paid couples may choose to share living cost
People are awaiting divorce or marriage expensive
Increased to elderly 65+ couples cohabitating