Do Women Initiate Divorce More than Men?

 Posted on September 15, 2015 in Divorce

Modern-day marriages in the western world are very different than marriages of the past. For the majority of civilized history, women seemed to get the short end of the stick when it came to marriage. They were responsible for bearing and raising the children, taking care of the home, and had little to no social life, all while being financially dependent on the men they married. The men, on the other hand, were free to fraternize whenever they liked, had affairs often, and were only held responsible for providing financially, all while being considered the head of the household. Marriages of the 21st Century look quite different. Today, men and women share marital responsibilities much more equally. With many wives also working full time jobs and many husbands taking responsibility for the kids, the components of an “ideal marriage” have changed drastically. A change in what constitutes a perfect marriage also means more people may find themselves unhappy if their key characteristics of a happy marriage are not being met. A new study shows that modern-day women are more likely to initiate divorce than men. Why is that?

Shifts in Ideals

As stated above, the components that make up an “ideal marriage” have shifted drastically over the past 100 years. Women now hold full time jobs, many as the top earner of their family. Wives can be career-oriented, focus on the home, or pursue other passions. Men can do the same. Women are no longer viewing marriage as just a source of protection and financial support, while more men are no longer viewing marriage as a source of children and an in-home cooking and cleaning service. People now want someone who is supportive, reliable, a good communicator, and someone who helps pay the bills. A modern “ideal marriage” involves two best friends coming together out of love to spend a lifetime of happiness and fun with each other. As expectations of a good marriage change, so do the things that drive people to leave their marriages. If your partner is not providing you with love, support, passion, romance, and fun, chances are, you have thought about leaving.

Divorce Study

Stanford psychologist Michael Rosenfeld studied heterosexual married couples over a span of five years to determine which sex is more likely to initiate a divorce. He surveyed over 2,000 married people, asking about their happiness, what they look for in a partner, and tracking their divorces. Of the pool he surveyed, women were responsible for initiating 69 percent of divorces. While this number is no surprise, as scientists have known for years, it is more common for women to initiate divorce than men. In addition, the pointed out some possible reasons for why women speak out sooner. The women who reported unhappiness in marriage most often cited a controlling husband as their reason for discontent. While marriage roles have changed in modern times, it is likely that many men, even subconsciously, assume that women will take on more of household and child bearing roles. This obviously does not sit well with every woman, leading to more women being outspoken when unhappy. On an related note, studies have shown that married couples who both raise and care for their children equally report having the happiest sex lives.

Whatever the reason, deciding to get a divorce is a serious, life changing decision. Having the help of a qualified Naperville divorce attorney can be critical. Contact the Pesce Law Group today at 630-352-2240 to learn more today.

Source: http://triblive.com/lifestyles/morelifestyles/9011283-74/women-rosenfeld-marriage#axzz3ljK0ZIMp