Family Formation - Case Study Example

Essay A family is a group of related people who provide nurturing and economic support to one another (Statistics New Zealand, 2006). Family formation is important for the development of every individual. A successful marriage requires a sustaining relationship with the will to overcome all hardships. However in this mechanical and fast paced life there is a trend towards dissolution of marriages in the world. There is increased fluidity and ambiguity within families, with more number of marriages and children living in more than one family type (Statistics New Zealand, 2006).This paper focus on family trends in Australia with emphasis on divorce statistics. There have been dramatic changes in family formation patterns in Australia in the recent decades. It includes a rise in cohabitation, which is basically living together without getting married, preferring to remain single, delay in first marriage, a decline in fertility, and rise in ex-nuptial births and divorce rates (Glezer, H, 1993). An increasingly new trend of same-sex living together relationship and marriages has also contributed to the increased divorce rates (ABS, 2002). Marriage rates in Australia are on a downtrend since the Great Depression. In contrast, divorce rates that rose in the 1970s have in turn stabilized since the 1980s. The crude marriage rate, which is the number of marriages in a year for every 1000 of the mean estimated resident population in the same year, has declined since the 1970, according to a 1995 release by the Australian bureau if Statistics. A graphical representation of the crude marriage rate from 1860 till 1990 is as follows: CRUDE MARRIAGE RATE Source: Australian Social Trends, Australian Bureau of Statistics The major reasons cited for this decline include economic downfall, social changes such as changes in divorce laws and attitude towards marriage and relationships (ABS, 2002). A more recent release by the same source has published a similar declining trend in marriage rates from 1982 to 2000. The graphical representation is as follows: MARRIAGE RATES According to the Family relationships Quarterly issue, couple relationships in Australia have changed dramatically in the 20th century. It projects an increase in the divorce rates in the 20th century (Weston, R, Qu, L, p 9-12). Australian Bureau of Statistics provides a graphical representation of the crude divorce rates and number of divorces taken during 1901 to 2005. Crude divorce rate is defined as the number of divorces in a year per 1000 of the mean estimated resident population in the same year (ABS, 2002). From the above graph, it is clear that the number of divorces has been on a rise since the 1980s. ((ABS, 2002, Weston, R, Qu, L, p 9-12, Australian Demographic Statistics, Australia, 2002, Family Matters, 1993).All the data provided above is authentic as it has been carried out by the Australian Bureau of Statistics which is the central statistical authority of the Australian Government. All surveys that it conducts are under the authority of the Censes and Statistics Act of 1905. (Australian Bureau of Statistics). Age specific divorce rates would give a more detailed picture of the pattern of divorce rates. In the Quarterly issue 2 of Family relationships, the divorce rate was found to be highest among women who were aged 25 – 29 and men who were aged 30 – 34. It reflects the fact that women get married at an early age. The divorce rate declined progressively in men and women who were in their mid-30s and older (Weston, R, Qu, L, p 9-12). It has also been shown that the divorce rates from second marriages were higher when compared to that of first marriages (ABS, 2002, Family Matters, 1993, ABS, 1995). While there were 45, 630 divorces granted throughout Australia in 1991(Family Matters, 1993), the Australian Demographic Statistics published a special report in which the number of divorces granted in the year 2001 alone was 55, 300. This is the largest number of divorce granted in the last 20 years (Australian Demographic Statistics, Australia, 2002). The duration of marriages ending in divorce in 1993 was 10.7. However, this duration reduced to 7 years in 1980- 1990 (ABS, 2002). The main reasons for divorce as cited in the article from Family matters include lack of communication between the spouses, a feeling of neglect and constant arguments (Family Matters, 1993). Other reasons are increased education and career opportunities for men and women, decreases in household affordability, and increased de facto partnering (ABS, 1995) i.e. same sex marriage or living arrangements. The Family Law Act that came into operation in 1975 has been cited as another major reason for the increasing divorce rates. According to this Act, irretrievable breakdown, measured by 12 months separation of the spouses, is the only ground of divorce (Weston, R., Qu, L, p 9-12, ABS, 1995). The ‘no fault’ provisions of the new act actually helped people divorce sooner when compared to the previous laws (Family Matters, 1993). However not all divorces are registered, as married couples separate but do not go through a formal divorce (ABS, 2002). As a result the extent of family dissolution cannot be easily measured and hence the divorce rate is expected to be much higher than that predicted (ABS, 2002). In conclusion, changes in family formation and dissolution, such as premarital cohabitation, delayed marriages and divorce, in Australia reflect the changing family values and traditions over time. Traditional family values seem to belong to the past. This will definitely have a negative impact on the next generation. Children are the most affected in a broken marriage as their character is shaped by the environment of the upbringing. Hence married couples must take wise decisions considering the welfare of the entire family and must focus on providing a very conducive environment to their children. They must realize that there is nothing compared to having a long and healthy married life and they must set good examples for all the generation to come. References: 1. Statistics New Zealand, International Developments in Family Statistics, 2006, Wellington. 2. Australian Bureau of Statistics, Marriages and Divorces, Australia, 2002, Cat.No. 3310.0, ABS, Canberra, viewed 12 August, 2008, 3. Weston, R., Qu, L, Family Statistics and Trends, Family Relationships Quarterly Issue 2, Australian Institute of Family Studies, p 9-12. 4. Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2002, Marriage and Divorce In Australia, Australian Demographic Statistics, Australia, 2002, Cat. No. 3101.0, ABS, Canberra. 5. Family facts: Divorce trends, Family Matters, 1993, no.35, p 28-29. 6. Australian Bureau of Statistics, Australian Social Trends, 1995, Cat. No. 4102.0, ABS, Canberra, viewed 10 August, 2008, 7. Glezer, H, Pathways to family formation: To tie or not to tie the knot? Family Matters, 1993, no.34, p 16-20. 8. Australian Bureau of Statistics, viewed on 14 August 2008, Read More