Divorce (AQA A Level Sociology): Revision Note

Changing pattern of divorce

• Divorce is the legal termination of a marriage

• Since the 1960s, divorce rates in the UK have risen significantly

  • 1961: 27,000 divorces

  • 1993: Peak of 165,018 divorces

  • 2012: 118,140 divorces

  • 2022: 80,057 divorces

• Divorce rates have declined slightly in recent years but remain higher compared to pre-1960 levels

• Most divorces involve couples in their late 30s to 40s, typically after 10–20 years of marriage

• Divorce statistics do not reflect the number of 'empty shell' marriages

Reasons for the increase in divorce

• Declining stigma and changing attitudes

  • Divorce is now viewed as more acceptable and less stigmatised

  • High-profile celebrity divorces (e.g., within the Royal Family) normalise divorce as a solution to marital breakdown

• Secularisation

  • Decline in religious influence has weakened opposition to divorce

  • Fewer couples marry in religious ceremonies, reducing church control over marriage

• Rising expectations of marriage

  • Fletcher (1966): Marriage is now seen as a relationship based on personal fulfilment and romantic love

  • Individuals are less willing to stay in unhappy marriages, contributing to higher divorce rates

  • Women, in particular, are less willing to tolerate dissatisfaction, with 75% of divorces initiated by women

• Women’s increased financial independence

  • Women have better education, careers, and financial stability, reducing dependence on men

  • Welfare benefits provide some support for single mothers, making divorce a viable option

• Feminist explanations

  • Women carry a dual burden of paid work and housework, creating tension within marriages

  • Hochschild (1997): Women feel more valued at work but face frustration at home due to men's resistance to housework

  • Duncombe and Marsden (1993): The 'triple shift' (work, domestic labour, emotional work) contributes to marital dissatisfaction

• Changes in law

  • Divorce Reform Act (1969): Implemented in 1971, allowing divorce based on "irretrievable breakdown of marriage" (adultery, desertion, unreasonable behaviour)

  • Matrimonial Causes Act (1973): Initially required a three-year minimum marriage length, reduced to one year in 1984

  • Legal aid (1949): Made divorce more affordable until funding cuts in 2013 limited availability

  • No-fault divorce: Introduced by the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act (2020), allowing couples to divorce without assigning blame

Sociological perspectives

• New Right

  • Rising divorce undermines traditional family values and social stability

  • Divorce creates a "dependency culture" and an underclass of welfare-dependent lone parents

  • Divorce leads to negative outcomes for children (e.g., poorer health and educational achievement)

• Functionalists

  • High divorce rates reflect higher expectations of marriage, not a decline in its importance

  • High remarriage rates show continued commitment to marriage as an institution

  • Divorce allows individuals to seek happier, more functional partnerships

• Feminists

  • Rising divorce rates are seen as a positive sign of female empowerment, enabling women to leave oppressive relationships

  • Duncombe and Marsden (1993): Emotional neglect and inequality at home drive women to file for divorce

• Interactionists

  • Morgan (1996): Divorce has different meanings for individuals, depending on their personal experiences

  • For some children, divorce can bring relief; for others, it can be traumatic

• Personal life perspective

  • Divorce may cause challenges (e.g., financial hardship, less contact with non-resident parents)

  • However, Smart (2011) argues that divorce is simply one of many life transitions and does not necessarily harm the family

• Theories of late modernity

  • Beck and Giddens (opens in a new tab): Individuals seek 'pure relationships' which are based on emotional satisfaction rather than duty

  • Greater personal freedom, secularisation, and choice have made divorce a normal part of modern life

Consequences of divorce

• Divorce has significant consequences for

  • family members

  • the extended family

  • the overall structure of the family

• Rising divorce rates are closely linked to an increase in lone-parent families (opens in a new tab) and reconstituted (step) families (opens in a new tab)

Changes to family structure

• There are now more reconstituted/blended families

• Adjusting to new family members can be challenging, as children and adults may need to adapt to different roles, routines, and behavioural expectations

• However, reconstituted families can provide more sources of care, love, and emotional support, which can benefit children

• Co-parenting challenges often arise, as most children live with their mothers post-divorce and may struggle to maintain regular contact with their father

• It is estimated that 33–50% of divorced fathers gradually lose all contact with their children

Financial hardship

• Divorce typically results in financial strain as assets are divided and households have less income to rely on

• Lone parents with dependent children are particularly vulnerable to poverty and financial insecurity

• Balancing the demands of paid work with parenting responsibilities can become more difficult for divorced individuals

Remarriage

• Remarriage rates in England and Wales have declined

  • 1995–2000: 19% of all marriages were remarriages

  • 2013: This dropped to 15%

  People remarry for various reasons:

  • Continuing belief in the institution of marriage, with hope that the second marriage will succeed

  • Child-rearing support, especially for divorcees with young children

  • Companionship and love

Relationship breakdown and emotional distress

• Post-divorce, disputes over parenting, custody, and property may continue

• Children’s relationships with their fathers often deteriorate, particularly if they live with their mother

• The father’s side of the family (e.g., grandparents) may see less of the children in reconstituted family setups

• Groups, such as Fathers4Justice (F4J), campaign to highlight the lack of legal rights for fathers to maintain contact with their children

• Divorce can cause emotional distress due to changes in social and family networks

  • Men are more likely to lose emotional support if friendships or kinship ties weaken

  • Women are often better supported by strong social networks

• For some, divorce brings emotional relief and positive outcomes, particularly if the marriage was unhappy or abusive