Examine the Reasons for changes in Cohabiatation and Marriage in the last 40 years
Examine Reasons for Change in the Patters of Marriage and Cohabitation in the last 40 years
Over the last 40 years marriage rates have declined significantly while the number of couple’s cohabitating has risen rapidly. This is due to our changing society where equality, laws, social acceptance and religions have all contributed into the way we view marriage and relationships. In the 1970’s there were around 400,000 first marriages whereas, in 2011, there were 248,000. The average ages of people getting married have also increased from 25 for men and 23 for women in 1961 to 36 for men and 33 for women in 2011. Cohabitation is a big factor in the decreasing number of marriages with people using it as either an alternative to marriage entirely, or a ‘trial marriage’ which just delays the time of a couple’s marriage.
A big factor changing marriage rates is the changing role of women in society. Many households are now becoming more matrifocal than before. Women’s improvement in their economic position has made them less financially dependent on men and they therefore do not have a greater pressure to marry. Girls’ greater success in education has helped them achieve better-paid jobs than previous generations and the availability of welfare benefits means that they can support themselves without needing a husband to do so. Allan and Crow argue that ‘marriage is less embedded within the economic system’ now which means that the family is no longer a unit of production – proving another reason why there has been such a decrease in them. The fact that women have become so independent and less reliant on men justifies how marriage rates have decreased from 400,000 to 248,000 in the last 40 years. Marriage also now takes place between couples as an act of love rather than practicality. With changing positions of women in the last 40 years, it is not so expected for women to focus on settling down and marrying, they can allow themselves to choose other options such
Over the last 40 years marriage rates have declined significantly while the number of couple’s cohabitating has risen rapidly. This is due to our changing society where equality, laws, social acceptance and religions have all contributed into the way we view marriage and relationships. In the 1970’s there were around 400,000 first marriages whereas, in 2011, there were 248,000. The average ages of people getting married have also increased from 25 for men and 23 for women in 1961 to 36 for men and 33 for women in 2011. Cohabitation is a big factor in the decreasing number of marriages with people using it as either an alternative to marriage entirely, or a ‘trial marriage’ which just delays the time of a couple’s marriage.
A big factor changing marriage rates is the changing role of women in society. Many households are now becoming more matrifocal than before. Women’s improvement in their economic position has made them less financially dependent on men and they therefore do not have a greater pressure to marry. Girls’ greater success in education has helped them achieve better-paid jobs than previous generations and the availability of welfare benefits means that they can support themselves without needing a husband to do so. Allan and Crow argue that ‘marriage is less embedded within the economic system’ now which means that the family is no longer a unit of production – proving another reason why there has been such a decrease in them. The fact that women have become so independent and less reliant on men justifies how marriage rates have decreased from 400,000 to 248,000 in the last 40 years. Marriage also now takes place between couples as an act of love rather than practicality. With changing positions of women in the last 40 years, it is not so expected for women to focus on settling down and marrying, they can allow themselves to choose other options such