Rising Divorce Rates: Sociological Explanations and Policy
This essay critically examines sociological explanations for the rising incidence of divorce in Western families, with particular reference to Australia. It considers two main types of explanation: one focusing on changes in divorce law, and another situating marital breakdown within broader socio-economic change. Drawing on scholars including Bilton, Bonnett and Jones, and Nicky Hart's Marxist-feminist analysis, the essay evaluates the strengths and weaknesses of each explanation and explores their respective social policy implications. The essay argues that the most useful explanations are found within a broad socio-economic framework rather than a narrow legal one, and concludes by noting the value of historical perspective in understanding contemporary family instability.
- Introduction: Divorce as a Growing Social Phenomenon: Rising divorce rates and their sociological significance
- Legal Explanations for Rising Divorce Rates: How changes in law explain increased divorce
- Socio-Economic Explanations for Marital Breakdown: Economic change and gender roles as causes of divorce
- Social Policy Implications: Policy responses derived from legal and economic frameworks
- Historical Perspective on Family Instability: Historical context challenges assumptions about modern instability
- Conclusion: Socio-economic framework best explains divorce trends
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What makes this paper effective
- The essay maintains a clear, consistently argued thesis — that socio-economic explanations outperform legal ones — and returns to it throughout rather than simply surveying perspectives without judgment.
- Each explanation is fairly presented before its weaknesses are identified, demonstrating balanced critical engagement rather than dismissal.
- The paper connects theoretical analysis directly to real-world social policy consequences, grounding abstract sociological arguments in practical implications.
Key academic technique demonstrated
The paper models critical comparison: it presents two competing explanatory frameworks side by side, evaluates the explanatory power of each using specific criteria (e.g., whether the explanation addresses root causes or only symptoms), and uses statistical evidence to support its preferred framework. This technique — presenting, critiquing, and adjudicating between rival theories — is a core skill in sociology essays.
Structure breakdown
The essay opens by establishing the social significance of rising divorce rates with census data, then states its thesis explicitly. It proceeds to examine legal explanations (Bilton et al.), then socio-economic ones (Hart), before comparing their policy implications in a dedicated section. A penultimate paragraph adds historical context via Bell and Zajdow. A brief conclusion reinforces the central argument. This structure — problem, competing explanations, policy implications, historical context, conclusion — is a strong model for analytical sociology essays.
Introduction: Divorce as a Growing Social Phenomenon
A major change that has occurred in the Western family is an increased incidence of divorce. Whereas in the past divorce was a relatively rare occurrence, in recent times it has become quite commonplace. This change is borne out clearly in census figures. For example, thirty years ago in Australia only one marriage in ten ended in divorce; nowadays the figure is more than one in three (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 1996, p. 45). A consequence of this change has been a substantial increase in the number of single-parent families and the attendant problems that this brings (Kilmartin, 1997).
An important issue for sociologists, and indeed for all of society, is why these changes in marital patterns have occurred. This essay critically examines a number of sociological explanations for the "divorce phenomenon" and considers the social policy implications that each explanation carries with it. It will be argued that the best explanations are to be found within a broad socio-economic framework.
References
Australian Bureau of Statistics (1996). Divorces, Australia. Canberra: Australian Government Printing Service.
Bell, R. and Zajdow, G. (1997). Family and household. In R. Jureidini, S. Kenny and M. Poole (Eds.), Sociology: Australian Connections. St Leonards, NSW: Allen and Unwin.
Bilton, T., Bonnett, K. and Jones, P. (1987). Introductory Sociology (2nd ed.). London: MacMillan.
Haralambos, M. (1995). Sociology: Themes and Perspectives (3rd ed.). London: Bell and Hyman.
Harrison, M. (1990). Grounds for divorce. Family Matters, 42, 34–35.
Johnson, V. (1981). The Last Resort: A Women's Refuge. Ringwood: Penguin.
Kilmartin, C. (1997). Children, divorce and one-parent families. Family Matters, 48.
McDonald, P. (1993). Family Trends and Structure in Australia. Australian Family Briefings No. 3. Melbourne: Australian Institute of Family Studies.
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