1. Group 12 Vino Ambrose Kalli Bennett Kate Larson Arien Telles Lindsay Starn

2. Marriage in a Culture of Divorce Marriage Culture to Divorce Culture Marriage Culture to Divorce Culture –In the 1970’s, divorce overtook death as the primary means of marital dissolution

3. Marriage Culture A cluster of beliefs, symbols and practices, framed by material conditions that reinforce marriage and deter divorce A cluster of beliefs, symbols and practices, framed by material conditions that reinforce marriage and deter divorce Constituted by three beliefs that reflect a stance toward marriage and divorce Constituted by three beliefs that reflect a stance toward marriage and divorce –Marrying is a given –Marriage is forever –Divorce is a last resort

4. Divorce Culture A set of symbols, beliefs and practices that anticipate and reinforce divorce and redefine marriage A set of symbols, beliefs and practices that anticipate and reinforce divorce and redefine marriage Encompasses three key beliefs Encompasses three key beliefs –Marrying is an option –Marriage is contingent –Divorce is a gateway Not just about more numbers representing divorce behaviors, but about emergence of alternative meanings Not just about more numbers representing divorce behaviors, but about emergence of alternative meanings

5. Gender Equality Expressed through two main and competing strains of thought Expressed through two main and competing strains of thought –“Rights Equality” – equality that minimizes differences between the sexes and emphasizes individual rights –“Relational Equality” – equality understood as equity; would have us revalue ideals and practices associated

6. The Challenge of Gender Equality Challenges status quo in marital meanings, changing power dynamics in marriage Challenges status quo in marital meanings, changing power dynamics in marriage Rising divorce rates have often been blamed on women Rising divorce rates have often been blamed on women –Women found to be more approving of divorce than men –Women are the primary initiators of divorce Individualism does not mean the same thing to women and men Individualism does not mean the same thing to women and men –Men: putting self first remains a way to sustain male dominance in marriage –Women: putting self first is a way to counter male dominance in marriage

7. The ’50s Stones: Constructing Traditionalism Referred to parents and “era” when asked what encouraged them into marriage Referred to parents and “era” when asked what encouraged them into marriage Marital monitoring was wives’ work and included “kin work” and “emotional work” Marital monitoring was wives’ work and included “kin work” and “emotional work” Believed in the reciprocity beyond the give and take in any one moment of a marriage Believed in the reciprocity beyond the give and take in any one moment of a marriage Many of the ’50s spouses supported women’s equality in the work place by the 1970’s, but felt that in marriage there has to be a boss Many of the ’50s spouses supported women’s equality in the work place by the 1970’s, but felt that in marriage there has to be a boss Male dominance and marriage culture are hard-wired for this generation. Relationships depended on wife monitoring the marriage and reconstructing herself for the husband Male dominance and marriage culture are hard-wired for this generation. Relationships depended on wife monitoring the marriage and reconstructing herself for the husband

8. The ’70s Turners: Divorce Culture Characteristics of Divorce Culture Characteristics of Divorce Culture –Individualism –Independence –Communication –Division of Labor Gender Ideology Gender Ideology Decrease in traditional roles Decrease in traditional roles Increase in Equality Increase in Equality

9. Divorce anxiety and culture Divorce anxiety and culture –Divorce as a gateway –New lease on life –Means to marital endurance Hypothetical Divorce Hypothetical Divorce “Marital Work Ethic” “Marital Work Ethic” –Work at marriage to survive

10. The Death of ‘Till Death Do Us Part’: The Transformation of Pair-Bonding in the 20 th Century Main Argument: Death to Divorce…

11. 1400-1800 1400-1800 –Marriage ended because of death 1867-1985 1867-1985 –Divorce rate jumped from 10% to over %55

12. Divorce rates vary by race Divorce rates vary by race –Black.63 –Hispanic.52 –White.48

13. Three factors contributed to the shift from death to divorce Three factors contributed to the shift from death to divorce –Increase in life span –Shift in biopsychosocial roles of women –Change in social values and legal policies

14. The evolution of human pair-bonding Capacity to stay married/divorce Capacity to stay married/divorce Inclination to divorce Inclination to divorce –Religiousness –Beliefs about marriage –Happiness –Family history –Social context –Projected damage Life-course Explanation Life-course Explanation Evolutionary Heritage Evolutionary Heritage

15. Impact of Death to Divorce Transition New pair-bonding patterns and alternative perspectives New pair-bonding patterns and alternative perspectives –Traumatic emotional experience –Feminist values –Individual rights –Heightened expectations for intimate relationships

16. Collective Deconstruction of Marriage Rate of divorce increased Rate of divorce increased Rate of marriage decreased Rate of marriage decreased Rates of cohabitation without marriage and non-marital births increased Rates of cohabitation without marriage and non-marital births increased

17. Implications Marital theory needs to become pair-bonding theory Marital theory needs to become pair-bonding theory The existence and viability of a multiplicity of pair-bonding arrangements needs to be acknowledged and addressed The existence and viability of a multiplicity of pair-bonding arrangements needs to be acknowledged and addressed Entering into any particular pair-bond structure entails a distinct and legitimate decision-making process Entering into any particular pair-bond structure entails a distinct and legitimate decision-making process Young adults, contemplating pair-bonding, need to be able to consider a variety of pair-bond options that fit their cultural beliefs, personal preferences, and relational goals Young adults, contemplating pair-bonding, need to be able to consider a variety of pair-bond options that fit their cultural beliefs, personal preferences, and relational goals Marriage should continue to be defined as the lifelong, monogamous pair-bond Marriage should continue to be defined as the lifelong, monogamous pair-bond Marriage, s a life-long, monogamous committed relationship, should be available to all mentally competent adults who desire to enter into such a legal and formal relationship Marriage, s a life-long, monogamous committed relationship, should be available to all mentally competent adults who desire to enter into such a legal and formal relationship Co-parenting w/o marriage needs to be recognized as a legitimate and life-long, nonmonogamous pair-bond Co-parenting w/o marriage needs to be recognized as a legitimate and life-long, nonmonogamous pair-bond Cohabitation w/o children or marriage needs to be viewed not only as a legitimate end-state in itself, but also as a legitimate form of pre-marriage Cohabitation w/o children or marriage needs to be viewed not only as a legitimate end-state in itself, but also as a legitimate form of pre-marriage Divorce and relational dissolution need to be viewed and treated as normal social events in the life course of modern families Divorce and relational dissolution need to be viewed and treated as normal social events in the life course of modern families The decision to divorce needs to be viewed with greater complexity, thoughtfulness, and neutrality The decision to divorce needs to be viewed with greater complexity, thoughtfulness, and neutrality

18. Discussion Questions Why have rising divorce rates consistently been blamed on women? Is this blame fair? Why have rising divorce rates consistently been blamed on women? Is this blame fair? Is gender equality really destabilizing in marriage? Is gender equality really destabilizing in marriage? Hackstaff states that, “historically, becoming a wife and becoming a husband have not meant the same thing”. What then does it mean to become a wife and to become a husband? Hackstaff states that, “historically, becoming a wife and becoming a husband have not meant the same thing”. What then does it mean to become a wife and to become a husband? Can divorce, as Pinsof says, be a good thing, with positive outcomes, or is it always to be viewed negatively? Can divorce, as Pinsof says, be a good thing, with positive outcomes, or is it always to be viewed negatively? Do you agree with Pittman, that most children of divorce survive, but do not recover? Do you agree with Pittman, that most children of divorce survive, but do not recover?