Marios Game and Video Masters Rentals Essay Example for Free

Marios Game and Video Masters Rentals Essay This project will aim to solve the information handling problems of Marios Game and Video Masters Rentals. Marios Game and Video Masters Rentals is a rental store that rents videos, games, and now DVDs (newly added) and is run by a man named Mario Anderson. To provide these services information is collected and stored about the items, and the members. Information about each member is written on a card, which is then put in to a card index box, which is sorted out by the member surname, then forename, then member number. Information about the items is put onto a card, which is then put in its case. After each day, a shop assistant writes loans list of all the items that have been rented out, along with the member number and video number, and name. What happens in Normal circumstances? When a member wants to rent out a copy, the customer must take it from an empty case from the shelf with the item card inside it. When he/she hands it into the counter, the shop assistant takes the card out and looks at the video number, and then takes the member number from the customer. If the member has lost their membership card, then they must pay a fee of à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½2.00, and will receive a new card. The persons old card for the store is destroyed, and the new one is put in the box .The shop assistant then asks the customer how many days he or she will want to rent it for, and writes it on the item card. The shop assistant then hands the item over to the customer. When an item is returned, the shop assistant goes back to the loan list from the date of rental. He or she then crosses it off. Then, he or she puts the case back onto the shelf and the item behind the counter. At the end of everyday, the loan lists are searched to find out if there are any overdue items. Then, by hand they must write a letter to the corresponding people. What happens in Special circumstances? When a new member joins, he must pay a joining fee of à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½5.00. Their details are stored on the card and placed in the index box in order. The shop assistant then gives the new member a membership card. When a member leaves, hand in their membership card, and their card in the index box is taken out and destroyed. When an item is bought, an item details card is filled out and put in the case. The actual item is put behind the counter, and the case with the card inside is placed on the shelf. When an item is sold because it is not popular anymore, the video card is taken out and destroyed. What Problems do the current system cause? The current system causes the following problems: Members lose their membership cards. They must pay à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½2.00 for a new one. Sometimes the cards go missing, so then new ones must be written out, and that is quite time-consuming. Sometimes, when different shop assistants write out the video card, other assistants may not be able to read the others handwriting, which leads to huge error e.g. a 4 written could look like a 9. A members card or an item card could be misplaced and could take a lot of time to find It is very time consuming when a shop assistant must look through the loan lists and write the reminder letters. When customers ask the staff whether a particular title is available, the staff will not be able to know it unless they have a particularly good memory. How could Mr Anderson solve the information-handling problems? Mr Anderson could solve their information handling problems by using a filing cabinet to store their information about members and items using detail cards. The advantage of this system is that much more information can be stored using this system. But the disadvantages are that these could be misplaced, lost or damaged, just like the existing system. Unauthorised people can take some records. It would also be quite time consuming. Another way of solving the problems would be to use a computer to store information about members, rentals, and items. The advantages of this system are that it can store a lot of data in a small space, searches through it very quickly. But computers can be quite expensive. There are two ways a computer can be used. You could write a program to solve all the information-handling problems, but I do not know how to write programs on the computer and it is very expensive to pay a programmer and it would be time-consuming. Or, you could use an application package such as a database. This database could store and process all the information about members, items, and rentals What is the best way out of the solutions? The best way to solve the information handling problems of Mr Anderson will be to set up a new system using a computer. I have decided to use a computer because: * Computers can store large amounts of data in a small space. * The information can be searched very quickly * Lists and reports about the information in a computer can be produced very quickly and easily. * There is already a computer that can be used (Mr Anderson has two computers at home, one of which he does not use) I have decided to do this using an application package because: * I do not know how to write computer programs * There is a wide variety of application packages * Application packages can be changed and customised to suit the needs of the user * Have used different application packages I the past The most suitable type of application package will be a database because: * Database packages are specially designed to store and process information. * I have used database packages before, so I know a lot more about these as oppose to packages I have never used before What must the new system be able to do? The new system must be able to perform the following tasks: * Allow member details to be looked up, edited and stored quickly, easily and accurately * Allow item details to be looked up, edited and stored quickly, easily and accurately * Allow rental details to be looked up, edited and stored quickly, easily and accurately * Allow item details to be searched to answer customer enquiries quickly and easily * Produce a report listing member and video details for overdue items. * Produce reminder letters to members with overdue items. The following criteria will be used to evaluate the success of the new system: * The system must be able to store at least 10 member records * The system must be able to store at least 20 item records * The system must be able to store at least 10 rental records * It must take no longer than 30 seconds to find and display a rental, item or loan record. * It must take no longer than two minutes to answer customers enquiries by entering search criteria and finding matching item * It must take no more than one minute to find and delete a member, item or rental record * It must take no more than two minutes to find and edit a member, item or rental record * It must take no more than two minutes to create a new member, item or rental record * On-screen data entry forms must be clearly laid out to make data entry easy * On-screen data entry forms must use automatic data validation to reduce data error on input * It must take no longer than 5 minutes to search for members with overdue video and produce a summary report * Reminder letters to customers with overdue videos should be clearly laid out and include all the details of the videos that need to be returned.

The Josephine Baker Story Essay -- essays research papers

Josephine Baker was born Freda Josephine Carson in St. Louis, Missouri, on June 3, 1906 to washerwoman, Carrie McDonald, and vaudeville drummer, Eddie Carson. Josephine's father abandoned them shortly after her birth and her mother married a kind but perpetually unemployed man named Arthur Martin. Their family came to include a son and two more daughters. Josephine grew up cleaning houses and babysitting for wealthy white families until she got a job waitressing at The Old Chauffeur's Club when she was 13-years-old. While working there she met a man named Willie Wells whom she had a short marriage with. Josephine never depended on a man for financial support and she never hesitated to leave when a relationship hit its breaking point. Which is why she was married and divorced three more times to an American named Willie Baker in 1921 (whose last name she chose to keep), a Frenchman ,Jean Lion, in 1937 (from whom she attained French citizenship) and a French orchestra leader, Jo Bouillon, in 1947. Josephine toured the United States with The Jones Family Band and The Dixie Steppers in 1919, performing various comical skits. When the troupes split, she tried to advance as a chorus girl for The Dixie Steppers in their production "Shuffle Along". She was turned away because she was "too skinny and too dark." Still determined as ever, she learned the chorus line's routines while working as part of the crew. Therefore, Josephine was the obvious replacement when one of the dancers left. Onstage she rolled her eyes and purposely acted clumsy. The audience loved her comedic touch and Josephine was a box office hit for the rest of the show's run. Josephine traveled to Paris for a new show that proved to be a turning point in her career. Josephine and dance partner Joe Alex captivated the audience with a routine that was new and exotic, and included Josephine boldly dressed in nothing but a feather skirt. Josephine worked the audience into frenzy with her uninhibited movements. She was an overnight sensation. Josephine's immense popularity afforded her a comfortable salary, which she spent mostly on clothes, jewelry and pets. She loved animals and at one time she owned a leopard, a chimpanzee, a pig, a snake, a goat, a parrot, parakeets, fish, three cats and seven dogs. When her routine with Alex got old she moved on and starred in La Folie du ... ...eine. The French government honored her with a 21-gun salute, making Josephine Baker the first American woman buried in France with military honors. Her gravesite is in the Cimetià ©re de Monaco, Monaco. Josephine Baker has continued to intrigue and inspire people throughout the world. In 1991, HBO released The Josephine Baker Story. The movie won two Emmys for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries and Outstanding Art Direction. The movie also picked up one of three Golden Globe nominations. Josephine Baker sashayed onto stage with a comic, yet sensual appeal that took Europe, and eventually the world, by storm. Famous for barely-there dresses and uninhibited dance routines, her exotic beauty generated nicknames such as "Black Venus," "Black Pearl" and "Creole Goddess." Admirers bestowed a plethora of gifts, including diamonds and cars, and she received approximately 1,500 marriage proposals. Josephine Baker was once quoted saying "I love performing. I shall perform until the day I die." She maintained energetic performances and a celebrity status for 50 years before going softly in her sleep, but she did not go softly through life.

Effects of Children Essay

Children have a big impact on a relationship and the communication between two parents. Adding children into any relationship takes change and communication on both ends. It can be harder depending on the different relationship situations. Children change not only your personal relationship but also the relationships you have with friends and family. I asked three different parents that I know the same three questions. The questions were: 1. What change was least expected after your baby was born? 2. How did communication with your partner and others change after having a baby? . How did having a child affect your marriage or relationship? Each of the answers I received was similar. All of the parents expressed that their lives and relationships changed a lot after having children. Their relationship with friends and with their partner became a challenge. Two out of the three said they expected the challenges while one said she didn’t expect so many issues to arise with her partner. A big issue that was mentioned by all three was the fact that the time between them and their partner was cut down drastically. That became a relationship breaker for one. She chose her daughters needs over the needs of her relationship. The communication patterns described by the parents did not follow the Guidelines for Effective Communication in Families. They differed because the communication and equity was not followed. One parent chose her time and energy needed to be focused on her child and put her relationship on hold. This in the end broke up her relationship. The other two followed the guidelines to an extent but not completely. Communication is tampered no matter what way you look at it. Men and woman look at parenthood different and that may be the main reason why children have such an effect on relationships. Communication is key in any relationship. There has to be a level of understanding and respect from both ends to balance any kind of friendship or intimate relationship. Children can change a lot of things in our lives. If two people are not on the same page in a relationship or about the choices that have to made with children it can ruin the relationship all together.

The Does Not Really Exist, But It Does Apply College...

Monkey sees, monkey judges.; a saying that does not really exist, but it does apply to college admissions. It is important to remember that everything that is done in high school will be seen for college admissions. Colleges are vague when discussing what they want from an applicant. They discuss what they are looking for, however, they do not get into the specifics or give examples of top applicants. To get into a desirable college, one must read constantly, follow a passion consistently, and plan time methodically; doing so will show colleges that a student has determination and focus. In order to gradually improve as a student, one must read constantly, consistently, and comfortably. Reading can not only improve the overall intelligence of a person — which has been proven by many studies — but it could also increase standardized test scores (i.e. SAT and ACT). One should read both complex texts and texts that he or she enjoys. Reading more improves reading speed, vocabulary, and understanding. Moreover, reading increases writing skills, so it will increase both English, reading, science, and writing scores on the ACT, and reading and writing scores on the SAT. It may seem that I am overdramatizing this for just one test, though, even if colleges do not admit it, standardized testing is the largest part of admissions. One may think that grades are equally important, however, there are several cases where a student’s grade point average (GPA) is inflated or deflated,Show MoreRelated Standardized Test Scores and Their Use in College Admissions D ecisions1560 Words   |  7 PagesTest Scores and their use in College Admissions Decisions PURPOSE The purpose of this proposal is to examine current and future Iowa State University admissions decisions processes. At the present time most colleges, including Iowa State use a combination of standardized test scores, high school class rank, high school grade point average, and essays to make decisions on admissions. All of the above are good determinants of a student’s possible success in college, except standardized test scoresRead MoreInner Ring Essay1359 Words   |  6 PagesArroyo 1 Alex Arroyo Professor Ledri-Aguilar English 120 30 August 2013 Inner Rings and the Motives that Come Along C.S Lewis delivered a speech named â€Å"The Inner Ring† at King’s College, a University in London. As Lewis continues on in his speech, one may be a little thrown off by what these inner rings are and what exactly they mean to people. Although Lewis mentions both good and harmful inner rings, one could argue that most people find themselves so caught up in these inner rings theyRead MoreA Study On Heart Failure And Readmission1274 Words   |  6 PagesThis four category approach allows the clinician to best formulate and prepare for practice in the outpatient setting. The four categories will include various articles based upon evidenced based practice approaches with ultimate goal of reducing admission by implementing successful outpatient care. The four categories are as follows: Frequent monitoring or reporting to the PCP; Medication and Diet compliance; Predictors of Readmission; Demographic and Socioeconomic Status. All of these categoriesRead MoreStudent Affair s Role And Purpose1370 Words   |  6 PagesUniversity. Should I be excited? Maybe! But I barely know much about student affairs, and how I should conduct myself as a student affair professional. Moreover, I believe the role of student affairs is to help students succeed and matriculate through college. In other words, I do not think people who work in student affairs feel the same. I believe student affairs professionals believe that their job is to help students register for classes and provide assistance to students who are struggling. WhichRead MoreThe Law And Law Code1898 Words   |  8 PagesThis is precisely the reason why lawyers exist. The law is very complex, so rather than forcing someone to go to law school for ten years, we have them hire lawyers to help them with the law. Basically, the average person does not know law enough to successfully defend himself or herself in court. I know that the law code is extensive. It would take a very long time to get through it even if you read constantly. II. 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In the south, the social climate did not change. Many companies did not hire black at all. White southerners did not want integration in school or equal opportunity for black people. The federal government wanted to change the situationRead MoreEssay on Affirmative Action2873 Words   |  12 Pagestreatment in admissions policies for big businesses and higher educational programs. In one way or another, this policy affects almost every person in America. It affects people directly, and most commonly, indirectly. When this policy affects people, it usually affects them in a negative way. When Affirmative Action first started, it was a descent policy, but with changes in society, it has become a policy that does more harm than good. Since this is what the policy currently does, AffirmativeRead MoreCareer And College Research Paper1432 Words   |  6 PagesCareer and College Research Paper Our world gets more digital every day. Nearly everyone has a smartphone and a computer. Even more people have a TV and if people do they are in contact with the digital world everyday. Multimedia Artists and Animators (MMA) have a big impact on this because they create the illusion of a realistic image in every digital and sometimes non-digital media project they publish. MMAs design 2 and 3 dimensional models, animation and visual effects. These appear in TV, moviesRead MoreEconomic Analysis Of Elite Higher Education1619 Words   |  7 Pagesgovernment has supported higher education by establishing the American Opportunity Tax Credit, expanding income-based repayment for student loans, and freezing the interest rate on subsidized student loans. This analysis has been focused on elite public colleges and universities in the state of California. Hereafter I refer higher education institutions. Demand and Supply Elasticity of higher education Before defining supply and demand in the higher education framework, it is important to note that the

Im Proud To Be Puerto Rican Essay - 1303 Words

Are you Puerto Rican or American? Hesitantly, I dont know what to say when people ask me this question because I feel that I have to choose between the two ethnicities. Since I was born in the U.S., I am considered American. But, if I say I am American, I am asked about my origins. Thus, controversy evolves around inhabitants of Puerto Rico because they are considered Americans since Puerto Rico is a commonwealth of the United States. My skin is white, my eyes are brown, and my hair is dark brown. I am confused with Europeans, such as Italians, Portuguese, or Spanish. As early as the sixth grade, I experienced prejudice indirectly. I grew up in a predominately white neighborhood where I consistently heard racist thoughts about Latinos.†¦show more content†¦While they talked about Latinos, I kept quiet; I didnt want them to think of me negatively. This experience lasted throughout the school year. When I returned to school after the summer break, half of my classmates were Latinos. The Latinos in my class differed in the way that they were proud to say they were Puerto Rican, Mexican, and Dominican. Thus, I pursued a relationship with these classmates and I began to feel differently about Latinos. I realized that I was taking part in the prejudice thoughts my previous classmates had toward Latinos by concealing my identity. I also recognized that Latinos were struggling to pursue a better life and that we are looked down upon. As a result of discrimination, it is difficult for us to accomplish our goals in life. Presently, every opportunity I get, I talk about my culture. I discuss the hardships Latinos face and I describe my experience growing up Puerto Rican. Although I am Puerto Rican, I dont know as much about my culture as I should. Reading Harvest of Empire: A History of Latinos in America by Juan Gonzalez has brought new insights to my knowledge of Puerto Ricans and Latinos in general. Gonzalez focuses on language and writes that speaking Spanish is trea ted as a handicap instead of as an asset. Gonzalez gives us a brief history of Puerto Rico. He writes about the changes of the official language, which was English in the past and has changed to Spanish.Show MoreRelatedLangston Hughes Research Paper25309 Words   |  102 Pageslearning, but he kept Walt Whitmans Leaves of Grass. Langston vowed to learn by personal experience and to write in the authentic voice of a black American. During the Atlantic voyage, he shared a cabin with three crew mates: a Filipino, a Puerto Rican, and a black American teenager from Kentucky, whose songs and hilarious tales made the hot, miserable voyage on the rusty old freighter bearable. Langstons ability to make friends easily and to speak Spanish kept him out of trouble with the rowdyRead MoreMarketing Mistakes and Successes175322 Words   |  702 Pagesa $366 million loss. With Maytag’s overseas Hoover Division, the costs of an incredibly bungled sales promotion were more than $300 million, and still counting. Then there was the monumental acquisition of Chrysler by Germany’s Daimler, maker of proud Mercedes, for $36 billion in 1998. After nine tumultuous years, Daimler gave up and sold Chrysler to a private equity firm in 2007 for only $7.4 billion. Although they may make mistakes, organizations with sharp managements follow certain patterns

Capital Punishment is Wrong Essay - 2406 Words

Max Soffar, whose mental illness left him particularly vulnerable to giving a false confession, stands convicted and sentenced to death for allegedly killing four victims during an armed robbery in a Houston bowling alley (Thorn, par. 2). The court overturned the conviction in 2004 because during his trial, lawyers failed to argue that Soffars confession contradicted the other evidence in the case, and he ended up on death row (Thorn, par. 4). From two unfair trials to a death sentence, the court ruled that the false confession given by Soffar should stand. In addition, his constitutional rights were not violated when his 2006 trial court judge refused to allow him to show that the only correct details in his fake confession were not the†¦show more content†¦According to researchers at the Death Penalty Information Center, from the years, 1973 to the year 1999 there was an average of about 46% exonerations per year. From the years, 2000 to 2007 there has been an average of 1 2% exonerations per year (â€Å"Facts,† par 5). I believe that this is a good thing, because with the use of science, we save more lives. However, there still are cases were innocent individuals get put on the death row because of an eyed witness, who accuses the wrong person of committing the crime. Like in the case of Jennifer Thompson, a 22 year old college student who was raped in her dormitory said, â€Å"I can identify the man who raped me anywhere and anytime† (â€Å"Eyewitness,† par. 6). With her visual memory of the man who raped her, a detective captured a man named Ron Cotton who Thompson identified as the man who had done wrong to her. She even confessed more than three times that she was 100% it was the correct individual they had captured (â€Å"Eyewitness,† par. 9). Mr. Cotton was sentenced to death row and remained in prison meantime. For eleven years, he spent his life in jail and had no choice but to look forward to the day of his execut ion, until the real man who raped Jennifer Thompson turned himself in and the case was closed (â€Å"Eyewitness,† par. 14). According to the researchers at the Death Penalty Information Center, evidence shows that 138 death-row inmates have been exonerated out of 7,000-plus death sentences since the Supreme CourtShow MoreRelatedCapital Punishment: Is It Right or Wrong?883 Words   |  4 PagesAt first thought it may seem that capital punishment is the right thing to do. But what most people don’t realize is that it is injustice and wrong. Capital punishment has been around since the middle ages and is used today to kill people who commit crimes it varies from state to state but one of the main crimes to receive the death penalty is murder. Also the U.S.A. has used capital punishment from it’s beginning it started with hanging and it’s changed over the years there have been many differentRead MoreIs Capital Punishment Right or Wrong?870 Words   |  4 PagesIs Capital Punishment Right or Wrong? One might say capital punishment is morally wrong and inhumane; I strongly disagree with this statement. The crimes committed by prisoners such as multiple aggravated murders, serial rapists, and brutal child molestations is malicious and cold-hearted. These actions deserve like punishments in return. People who do those things have no purpose of being part of mainstream society. Bringing justice and closure to the victim’s family, deterrence of crime,Read More Capital Punishment Is Wrong Essay2471 Words   |  10 PagesCapital Punishment Is Wrong To this date, Seven hundred and seventy two criminals in the U.S. alone have been subject to Capital Punishment. (Executions USA 2002). Using specific examples such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Timothy McVeigh execution, capital punishment is seen as inhumane, wrong and an unusual punishment. The death penalty is greatly rejected and discouraged by many countries and states. There are more than one hundred countries who have abolishedRead MoreCapital Punishment: Right or Wrong? Essay1837 Words   |  8 PagesCapital Punishment: Right or Wrong? All punishment is based on the same simple truth: there must be a penalty for wrongdoing. In order for there to be punishment, there must be both a wrongdoer and an authority to inflict the penalty. In a family, when you break a rule, the punishment is handed out by the parents. In society, punishment for crime is carried out by a criminal justice system (police, courts, and prisons). In both systems, one solid rule of thumb can be derived: if youRead MoreCapital Punishment1534 Words   |  7 PagesThe death penalty has been around for many centuries and will probably be around for many to come. Although some citizens feel capital punishment is ethically wrong, it is necessary in today s society for various reasons. Society must be kept safe from the barbaric acts of murders and rapist, by taking away their lives to function and perform in our society. Most criminals don t take into account the results of their actions. If a person intending to commit a crime, sees another criminal put toRead More Capital Punishment Essay - Justice in Retribution1470 Words   |  6 PagesCapital Punishment: Justice in Retribution       The American government operates in the fashion of an indirect democracy. Citizens live under a social contract whereby individuals agree to forfeit certain rights for the good of the whole. Punishments for crimes against the state are carried out via due process, guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment. The use of capital punishment is decided by the state, which is legal in thirty-seven states. It is a moral imperative to protect the states rightsRead MoreCapital Punishment and its Controversies 1434 Words   |  6 PagesCapital punishment uses death penalty as a form of punishment in many states and countries. It is a practice that has raised endless questions all over the world. Capital punishment or death penalty policy has changed in many countries overtime. Countries such as, New Australia, Zealand and 15 states in the US do not have capital punishment. One of the major concerns arising with capital punishment is because it causes ending of a human life. People and organi zations of different backgrounds areRead MoreAristotle Mill on Capital Punishment1322 Words   |  6 PagesAristotle amp; Mill’s Opinion on Capital Punishment Brianna Lelli Hugh Miller Paper #2 Topic #4 October 17th 2011 Capital Punishment is a moral controversy in today’s society. It is the judicial execution of criminals judged guilty of capital offenses by the state, or in other words, the death penalty. The first established death penalty laws can date back to the Eighteenth Century B.C. and the ethical debates towards this issue have existed just as long. There is a constantRead MoreThe Issue Of Capital Punishment Essay1411 Words   |  6 PagesIssues with Capital Punishment Capital punishment, also known as death penalty is a legal procedure in which a state executes a person for crimes he/she has committed. This punishment has been implemented by many states and used for barbaric crimes, especially murder. It is also used on crimes against the state such as treason, crimes against humanity and violent crimes. There are mixed reactions on capital punishment depending on one’s faith. In my view, I am not in favor of capital punishment as I stronglyRead More Capital Punishment Essay1136 Words   |  5 Pagesbasis for this political debate over the past several decades --- capital punishment. In society today, many people are murdered every day by the hands of another human being. Those who are for capital punishment promote that it is a deterrent for crime, provides closure, and is a moral punishment for those who choose to take a human life. Those not in favor of it argue that it is an ineffective crime deterrent, sends the wrong message, and is more expensive than sentencing a murderer to life

Examine the reasons for the changes in the patterns of marriage and cohabitation in the last 40 years or so free essay sample

In the last 40 years, Society in Britain has experienced many changes that have affected the family. There have been changes in attitudes to and expectations of family life, as well as official changes such as government laws. These changes have been induced by the rise of feminism; they have increased awareness of women’s rights and freedoms. Another change that has affected family is postmodernism, which has promoted freedom, choice and diversity. Secularisation has also affected the family, which has taken away stigmas attached to aspects of family life. The changes resulting have affected marriage rates, which are decreasing, and more people are now marrying later in life and more than once. More people are choosing to cohabit, either before or instead of marrying, and this is becoming increasingly common in young couples. Divorce rates have also increased in the last 40 years, following the changes in the law and attitudes. As society’s view of a ‘conventional family’ has changed over the last 40 years, the variety of acceptable norms has increased drastically. We will write a custom essay sample on Examine the reasons for the changes in the patterns of marriage and cohabitation in the last 40 years or so or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page In the past, an unmarried woman or spinster would be looked down on in society ,as it was a norm that a woman should be married with children. If they didn’t they would be judged as there was a problem with them so that they couldn’t have kids or a husband. The average age for a women first getting married in 1961 was 23.1 this has risen to 30 by June 2009. This shows that women are now waiting longer for their first marriage. This is down to many different reasons. Single women aren’t looked down on by the majority of people today, they are viewed as strong, independent women. This means that there is next to no pressure for women to get married quickly. This has resulted in the rise in cohabitation. Marriage is no longer seen as the definition of a proper relationship by society. 40 years ago, living together outside of marriage was a rarity; however cohabitation can now be seen as a socially acceptable alternative to marriage. This is partly due to the changing attitudes to sexual relationships mean that sex is no longer seen as only legitimate within marriage, this has also resulted in far fewer members of my generation viewing cohabitation as morally wrong. More and more people are also seeing that the legal papers of marriage are just legal papers it  doesn’t add to the relationship. For people in today’s society a happy relationship is much more important than the papers that come with getting married, people see that a couple that cohabit and are happy have as much of a valid relationship than those who are married. Divorce rates have also increased as a result of the change in attitudes. In the past there was a stigma attached to getting divorced, however It is now much more acceptable and ‘normal’ for divorce to happen, 40% of marriages end in divorce. The attitude to marriage has changed from it being a lifelong contract to a serious relationship, and it is far more acceptable for a relationship to end than a contract to be broken, so divorce becomes more acceptable, and more people feel able to end a relationship in which they are not happy. When another wave of Feminism started in the 60’s, their views have been impacting society’s values and the pattern of family life. Feminists believe in the independence of women, both financially and socially, and that marriage is oppressive to females because it is dominated by males. They also reject the idea that women should become the housewife giving up her career to bear children. They welcome the rise in cohabitation. They do agree with the postmodernists in that family life should be down to choice and is diverse. They say that women should have the freedom to choose whether they marry, cohabit or divorce or whether they raise children alone or in a relationship all dependent on their choice. They have also encouraged women to focus on a career rather than starting a family and getting married, thus the marriage rate has decreased. Feminist have also given positive responses to the government that have made laws making divorce easier. Before these laws it was ridiculously difficult for women to get a divorce. These laws give women more freedom for women to abusive and oppressive marriages. Judith Stacey has argued how that greater choice has benefitted women because it enables them to be free from patriarchal oppression and shape their family to their needs. Marxist-Feminists have gone as far as linking gender inequality to class inequality, they would say that the falling rates in marriage and raising rates of divorce are showing that society is becoming less controlled by the capitalist men. Feminist say that as women take on a more equal role in society as they are able to support themselves financially and can afford to be free from male oppression. Laws over the When laws relating to marriage and divorce  have changed in the last 30 years, they have both helped to shape and influence social attitudes, and also reflected the changes in attitudes that have taken place. The Civil Partnerships Act in 2004 enabled people of the same sex to enter in to a civil partnership, or gay marriage. This has meant that the concept of marriage has been widened beyond previous definition, and provides another option for people who may otherwise have felt forced in to a heterosexual marriage in order to conform to societies expectations. This could have an impact on patterns of heterosexual marriage because people no longer feel they need to fit a certain mould, because the law has changed to be more inclusive. Legislation has also made divorce a lot easier than before and more of an option for many people. In 1984, the law said that rather than being married for 3 years before a couple were allowed to divorce, the time was reduced to one year. The Family Law Act in 1996 said that there did not have to be any fault involved with divorce for it to be done quickly and promoting mediation to make the process easier. This turned the idea of divorce from being that of a failed marriage, and the result of someone’s mistakes or failures, to be being just another part of normal life, an acceptable next step after being married for a while. The decline in religious people in Britain has also been a factor in the patterns of cohabitation and divorce. As the country becomes more and more secular, values that are traditionally associated with religion are declining gradually. Younger generations no longer viewing sex outside of marriage as sinful is just one of these religious traditions that are declining, it is also less likely to be taken into consideration for couples choosing to cohabit instead of marrying. The church has always been supportive of marriage it’s a tradition of religion, but as the decline in the churches influence over society’s values, marriage could be seen as declining in value too. Most religions still uphold the importance of marriage in a person’s life so they therefore discredit divorce, so in the past couples would have tried at all accounts to stay together and make it work. The divorce rates have increased because people are less likely to be considering religious views when making their decisions. In the UK there has been a vast increase over the last 40 years in the variety of different faith influences in the UK. Due to society becoming more multicultural, there has been an increase in marriages where the partners have different  faiths, or one person has no faith. This can lead to difficulties in the Childs upbringing. Another difficulty could be the conflict caused by two families of different faiths. Divorce is more likely in inter-faith marriages than those of the same faith; this has also helped in the increase of the divorce rate. . Postmodernism can also help to explain trends in marriage, divorce and cohabitation in the last 40 years. Postmodernist ideas say that choice for every individual is the most important thing, and puts personal freedom and satisfaction above all else. Postmodernists say that unlike frogs or butterflies we us people don’t go through a fixed life cycle, instead we follow a life course where at many points we go either one way or another. This means that there is no right or ideal way to have a relationship or raise a family, so people are free to live however be most convenient for them, which may include cohabitation rather than marriage. Postmodernist views also say that our identity is no longer defined by our family background, and instead centres on material possessions, which means families are less important to who we are. This could mean that people are less inclined to see marriage as a vital part of adulthood and so choose cohabitation because it is more flexible, or to remain single. With an emphasis on self-fulfilment means that people will become less focused on commitment to anything outside of themselves, from party politics to relationships, this has also made marriage rates suffered. by putting priority on yourself means that if they aren’t fulfilled by their partner, whether this is their wife/husband or boyfriend/girlfriend. They can leave to find a new one. This would also explain the higher divorce rate. Beck has argued that we now live in a ‘risk society’ where tradition has less influence and people have more choice. He says that as a result of this we make choices by calculating the risk and reward factors involved. He also says how it contrasts from earlier years where both partners had fixed roles and had less choice for example, people were expected to marry. Once married men were expected to be the breadwinner and disciplinarian and make the important financial decisions, whilst women took care of children and the house. British society’s understanding of the form and function of a family has been changing over the last 30 years, and this has been shown in the rates of marriage falling, divorce and remarriage increasing, and cohabitation becoming a more popular lifestyle choice. Society’s values  have been affected by a greater emphasis on individualism and personal fulfilment, as opposed to the traditional values of the Church, which have had more of a role in defining the family in the past. There has been an increase in awareness of equality issues too, particularly with the rise of feminism and gay rights, which have lead to changes in the law such as the Civil Partnerships Act, and legislation to increase ease of divorce. Various sociological theories have attempted to explain these changes, particularly postmodernism, but the fact that 95.1% of British women still choose to marry before the age of 49 shows that while our views on marriage and family life becoming more flexible, they still remain an important part of our society. In my opinion the reason for the increase in marriage is because Britain has become a throwaway society, we can dispose of anything we choose including marriage, a marriage can end up in divorce after six weeks.