Table of contentsIntroductionReasons for divorceConclusion IntroductionThe number of divorces has increased significantly over the last 50 years. In the 1960s there were around 30,000 divorces per year, while in the early 2000s there were around 120,000. The divorce rate means that, according to Chandler (2006), on average, 40%. of all marriages will end in divorce. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an Original Essay Reasons for Divorce One of the reasons for the increasing divorce rate is changes in the law. Over the past 50 years, three major changes have been made to the law that have made divorce easier and therefore more common: the equalization of the grounds for divorce between the sexes, the broadening of the grounds for divorce, and the make divorce cheaper. The grounds for divorce were equalized in 1923 and this change led to an increase in the number of divorce applications from women. In 1971, the Divorce Law Reform Act of 1969 expanded the grounds for divorce to “irretrievable breakdown” – meaning that couples only had to prove that the marriage was irretrievable in order to obtain a divorce. No other criteria had to be met, leading to a sharp increase in the divorce rate. Divorce became cheaper in 1949 when legal aid was introduced, making divorce more accessible to working-class couples and again contributing to the rise in divorce rates. Mitchell and Goody (1997) argue that one of the most important reasons for the increase in the divorce rate represents the decreasing stigma attached to divorce and changing attitudes toward it. In the past, divorce was very stigmatized. For example, many churches refused to hold marriage ceremonies involving divorced people. However, more and more people view divorce as socially acceptable. This means that more and more couples are considering this as a viable option because they are less likely to be embarrassed by it, leading to a higher divorce rate. Another reason for the increase in the number of divorces over the last 50 years is secularization. As religious influence in society diminishes, people are less likely to be influenced by religious teachings when making decisions about divorce. Although many religions are opposed to divorce, some churches are making their views on divorce and divorcees less harsh, perhaps because they are losing large numbers of people. Rising expectations of marriage are another reason for the increase in divorce rates over the past 50 years. years. Many functionalists, for example Fletcher (1966), argue that higher expectations of marriage make couples less willing to endure an unhappy marriage. In the past, people did not have much choice in choosing their spouse, as it was largely related to economic reasons. This meant their expectations were lower, making them less likely to become unhappy. On the other hand, for many people these days, marriage should be based on love, and if there is no more love, there is no reason to stay. married. This means that many couples are divorcing, which increases the divorce rate. Although they admit that divorce is becoming increasingly popular, functionalists indicate that people continue to marry and that many people remarry, which means.