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Why Divorce is Becoming More Common in Marriage
Divorce has become increasingly common in modern marriages, with how many marriages end in divorce for various reasons.
Many factors can contribute to the rising divorce rate, including changing social norms, financial pressures, and differences in how people view marriage today compared to in years past.
Regardless of the underlying factors driving this trend, it is clear that divorce is becoming more prevalent among married couples and will likely continue to do so in the years to come.
Changing social norms
In recent decades, we have seen significant shifts in how society views issues like gender roles, sexual orientation, and family structure.
As these traditional ideas about how men and women should behave and how families should be structured have evolved or been wholly overturned, it is no surprise that we are seeing more couples decide to go their separate ways.
Financial pressures
In many cases, financial stress is a crucial factor driving divorce. With the cost of living continuing to rise and wages remaining stagnant in most parts of the country, many couples struggle to make ends meet.
When money problems begin to take a toll on the marriage and threaten one or both partners’ ability to provide for themselves and their families, divorce can seem like the only viable option.
Differences in how people view marriage today versus in years past
Another factor contributing to rising divorce rates is the changing nature of marriage itself. In years past, people typically married with the expectation that they would be together for life.
However, in today’s more individualistic society, many people view marriage as a choice rather than an obligation and are less willing to stay in a relationship that isn’t working out.
As such, we see more couples end their marriages when they realize they will not last.
Changing social and legal landscape
In recent years, there have been several significant changes to divorce laws and how it is processed.
For example, some states now offer no-fault divorces that allow couples to terminate their marriages quickly and easily without providing evidence of wrongdoing on either side.
Additionally, many courts are making it easier for couples to negotiate the terms of their divorce settlements outside of court through mediation or other processes.
These developments have made it easier for people who may not have otherwise considered divorce to do so when faced with marital problems.
Greater acceptance of divorce
As divorce has become more prevalent, we have also seen a shift in how people view it.
While historically, there was a stigma attached to divorce your spouse, this view is becoming less common as we see more and more couples choosing to end their marriages.
As such, many people no longer feel any social pressure to stay in unhappy or unhealthy relationships simply because they are married.
Changing expectations of marriage
In addition to changing views about the institution of marriage, many people today also have different expectations for their marriages than they may have had in years past.
With more and more couples choosing to wait longer before getting married or opting not to marry, people are less likely to view divorce as a failure or a blemish on their character.
Instead, they see it as an inevitable part of being human that sometimes does not work out how we would like.
Increased awareness of resources for struggling couples
Another factor contributing to rising divorce rates is the increased availability and visibility of resources designed to help couples struggling in their marriages.
Whether it be professional counseling, self-help books, or online support groups, countless options are now available for those looking to save their marriage or improve their communication with their spouse.
As such, more and more people are finding the support they need to deal with relationship issues before they lead to divorce.
Changing attitudes toward how to resolve conflicts
Many people today also have different approaches to handling conflict with their spouses.
Rather than simply trying to “win” arguments or avoid difficult conversations altogether, more couples are taking a more collaborative approach that focuses on compromise and finding solutions together.
As such, we see fewer marriages ending in divorce due to destructive communication habits or uncontrolled anger.
More considerable societal support for divorcing couples
The rising divorce rate can also be partially attributed to increased social acceptance and support for those who divorce.
Rather than shaming or ridiculing people who end their marriages, we are seeing a growing cultural shift toward understanding and accepting how difficult it can be to make a relationship work.
As such, more people feel comfortable choosing divorce as the best option for them in certain situations and are less afraid of the stigma that may have surrounded this choice in years past.
The increasing availability of alternatives to marriage
A final contributing factor to rising divorce rates is that we have seen a steady increase in the number of alternative relationship structures available today.
Whether it be non-traditional partnerships such as cohabitation or open marriages, or entirely new forms of relationships such as polyamory, there are more and more options available for how people can form romantic and sexual relationships outside of marriage.
As such, many couples choose not to get married at all, and those who do may be less inclined to view divorce as the ultimate failure.
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