The document discusses several sociological trends related to marriage and divorce, including the rise of online dating and social media being cited in divorce petitions. It also examines how divorce has been viewed historically from ancient Roman times to modern times, with perspectives shifting from a purely family matter to a religious sacrament to today's no-fault system. The legal process and emotional impacts of divorce are also summarized.

1. Sociological Trends and Legal Changes

3.  Nearly 30% of new couples are meeting
online. (TIME Magazine, 2010)
 Facebook cited in 33% of divorce petitions
(applications). (UK study, 2011)
 What is it about social media/online dating
that creates such positive and negative
circumstances for couples?

4.  Why you think social media poses such a
threat to married couples, specifically those
having marital problems?
 Do you think this “online” problem will persist
for married couples in the future? Why?

5.  When marriage does not meet the
expectations of 1 or both partners.
 Lack of marital satisfaction
 Rates fluctuate as a result of Social and Moral
values
 Today: controlled by religion and government

6.  Ancient Romans – purely family
concern, rather than state governed.
◦ Very attainable, happened frequently
 Early Christians (11th-12th cent)
◦ First consideration from a religious standpoint.
 Catholic Church – Marriage as a Sacrament
◦ Marriage as a sacred rite, spiritual importance.
◦ Divorce was the breaking of something sacred.

7.  Functionalist perspective (stability created by
roles and division of labour)
 Traditional (economic, childrearing basis)
 Divorce meant suing for “matrimonial offence”
(adultery and cruelty)

8.  Romance as the basis for marriage.
 Assessment of satisfaction = how happy are
you?
 Divorce treated as “marriage breakdown”
 Divorce law reflects love and companionate
purposes of marriage.

9.  Divorce is increasingly common
 Divorce law decreases the time required to
get a divorce.

10. • Constitution Act
• Marriage and Divorce federally governed
1867 • 1925 – Adultery grounds for divorce (for women)
• Divorce Act -“Marriage Breakdown” after 3 years of separation
• Sharp increase in divorce rates
1968
• Divorce Act – 1 year of separation before divorce.
• “No Fault” divorce
1986 • Sharp increase in divorce rate.

11. Awareness, Separation,
Reorganization

12.  One person
requests/initiates
 Recognition of
ongoing problems
 Denial until
confronted by
request for divorce
 Begin shifting energy
to outside roles

13.  Plan the break up
 Settle child custody
and finances
 Notify
friends, family &
coworkers
 2 new households

14.  Establish 2 separate
lives
(social, financial)
 Form new social life
as a single person
 Negotiate new
parental roles

15.  In 1985 what changes were made to the Divorce Act?
 What is the “single ground” for divorce? What three
conditions can give reason for divorce?
 Define separation. Outline the conditions surrounding the
process of separation.
 Adultery and cruelty are still considered to be “matrimonial
offences”. Outline how these offences can and cannot be
used as grounds for divorce.
 What kind of evidence is needed to prove the presence of
adultery or cruelty? Why are these “offences” treated
differently?

16. What can these artworks tell us
about divorce as a
legal, emotional and physical
process?

23. The Legal and the Real

24.  Divorce doesn’t end on paper or in court
 After legal divorce there are emotional and
practical issues to cover
 Consequences are complex, and so are they
emotions
 New individual developmental tasks

25.  Arrangements for
property, possessions, children and spousal
support

26.  Legal action taken to keep the peace, protect
yourself, children and property.

27.  Only when disagreements cannot be resolved.
Law imposes a decision on the situation.

28.  If kids are involved, Judge will consider both
partners’ requests. Reasonable? Supported?

29.  Don’t expect too much from legal divorce
 Finalization won’t solve all problems
 Setting themselves up for frustration or
disappointment

30.  The reality and feelings that hit post-divorce
 Dealing with:
◦ Feelings
◦ Finances
◦ Friends and Family

31.  Ending one life,
beginning another
 Breaking old
patterns
 New Balance

32.  Breaking emotional bonds
 Habits and dependencies that connect you to
your spouse.
 Letting Go:
anger, guilt, blame, fear, resentment, tension.
 Achieve neutral view of ex-spouse
 Self-confidence and new openness.

33.  Mind and body cannot be separated!
 Internalized stress and feelings cause
physical symptoms
 Tension, stress, anxiety lead to illness
 Rates of suicide, accident victims & physical
illness

34.  Listen to your body
 Indicator of mental
and emotional
heath

35.  “taking care of business”, making ends meet.
 Safety, security, stability for you & children
 Financial realities for men and women

36.  Greater earning  Lower earning
potential potential
 More likely to remarry  Less likely to remarry
 More likely to have
 Higher standard or
custody
living
 Very low standard of
living
Men Women

37.  10% of those divorced feel that their life is
better.
 20% feel that quality of life is significantly
worse.

39.  A legal contract
 Summarizes obligations to one another
 Finances, property, children
 Can be made before of after marriage
 Promises to each other.