256 Pages
    by Routledge

    256 Pages
    by Routledge

    The divorce rate has been rising significantly throughout the twentieth century. By interweaving the historical, demographic, sociological, legal, political and policy aspects of this increase, Colin Gibson explores the effects it has had on family patterns and habits. Dissolving Wedlock presents a multi-disciplinary examination of all the socio-legal consequences of family breakdown.
    Dissolving Wedlock will be invaluable reading to all lecturers and students of social policy, sociology and social work as well as to professionals and lawyers working in the field of divorce.

    Preface Introduction Part I Before Civil Divorce 1. Ecclesiastical influence and jurisdiction in matrimonial matters 2. Decline of the ecclesiastical courts 3. Parliamentary divorce 4. The coming of judicial divorce Part II Divorce or Separation 5. Constraints of poverty and gender 6. Between the Wars 7. From matrimonial offence to irretrievable breakdown Part III Marriage Patterns in the Twentieth Century 8. Changing family patterns 9. The resort to divorce: the social evidence 10. The reconstituted family Part IV Marriage Breakdown Today 11. Divorce: the legal evidence 12. Family breakdown, protection and the law 13. Accounting for family support 14. Marriage breakdown in the 1990s Notes Bibliography Name index Subject index

    Biography

    Dr Colin Gibson, Colin Gibson

    `... readable, multidisciplinary analysis ... will be of interest to all concerned with the welfare of the individual of the family.' - Institute of Health Education

    `Should be required reading for those people who wish to set themselves up as arbiters of others' sexual and marital behaviour...' - Claire Rayner, The Sunday Times