Over the last century, the divorce rate has fluctuated and is currently much higher than it was in the early 1900’s. Knowing this, when asked the question what social factors have contributed to these changing divorce rates, there is no one right answer and most definitely not only one factor. Many factors have an influence on the divorce rate and several of them are interrelated. Factors such as growing individualism, socioeconomic status, racial background, religion, personality and many others are all major contributors to the increasing divorce rate. In 1975, a law was passed, the Family Law Act 1975, which allowed couples to divorce after 12 months of separation rather than having to prove why they needed a divorce. After this event,
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(Lindsay & Dempsey 2009) There are many reasons for this increase in the divorce rate, one being that nowadays there are less advantages to being married. The State has taken over several responsibilities that traditionally the family was responsible for, such as insurance, take-away food, childcare services and health services, and it has caused a change in the number of marriages. This is because if you have enough financial resources to buy these things, then marriage becomes an option. (Balestrino 2013) Another trend that has been noted in individualistic cultures, a culture that focuses on individual goals rather than group goals, is that people no longer think …show more content…
(De Vaus 2004) There are many disadvantages that come with marrying at a young age that add to the likelihood of getting a divorce, such as financial instability. Young couples rarely have the means to fully support themselves. (Clarke-Stewart 2006) Along with marrying early, if there are unplanned pregnancies that happen before marriage or which forces a couple into marriage, it is likely to end in divorce. Children can also play a role in influencing divorce by causing stress on their parents, whether they have a disability, pass away, or the parents just do not know how to control them. Studies have also seen relations between the couple getting divorced and whether or not their parents were divorced. It is more likely for children of divorced parents to grow up and get a divorce themselves. (Lindsay & Dempsey 2009) One factor that has an abundance of research on it, is the idea of a couple cohabiting prior to marriage and if it increases the chances of divorce. Historically, cohabitation is clearly linked to divorce and is a predisposing factor, but in our post-industrial society, cohabitation is becoming the norm prior to marriage and the number of cohabiters is increasing every year, so they may not be as linked anymore as the divorce rate is not increasing dramatically along with the cohabitation rate. (Balestrino 2013) These are all key components of the rising divorce rate over the
(Lindsay & Dempsey 2009) There are many reasons for this increase in the divorce rate, one being that nowadays there are less advantages to being married. The State has taken over several responsibilities that traditionally the family was responsible for, such as insurance, take-away food, childcare services and health services, and it has caused a change in the number of marriages. This is because if you have enough financial resources to buy these things, then marriage becomes an option. (Balestrino 2013) Another trend that has been noted in individualistic cultures, a culture that focuses on individual goals rather than group goals, is that people no longer think …show more content…
(De Vaus 2004) There are many disadvantages that come with marrying at a young age that add to the likelihood of getting a divorce, such as financial instability. Young couples rarely have the means to fully support themselves. (Clarke-Stewart 2006) Along with marrying early, if there are unplanned pregnancies that happen before marriage or which forces a couple into marriage, it is likely to end in divorce. Children can also play a role in influencing divorce by causing stress on their parents, whether they have a disability, pass away, or the parents just do not know how to control them. Studies have also seen relations between the couple getting divorced and whether or not their parents were divorced. It is more likely for children of divorced parents to grow up and get a divorce themselves. (Lindsay & Dempsey 2009) One factor that has an abundance of research on it, is the idea of a couple cohabiting prior to marriage and if it increases the chances of divorce. Historically, cohabitation is clearly linked to divorce and is a predisposing factor, but in our post-industrial society, cohabitation is becoming the norm prior to marriage and the number of cohabiters is increasing every year, so they may not be as linked anymore as the divorce rate is not increasing dramatically along with the cohabitation rate. (Balestrino 2013) These are all key components of the rising divorce rate over the