Why Divorce Rate has been Climbing in the West over the Years

In the US, almost one out of two marriages is heading for a split after some years. Sociologists are scrambling to find out the reason why this is so and what long-term effect this kind of divorce rate will have on the psychology of future generations as well as social stability as a whole.

A high divorce rate is not healthy for sure. It inflicts misery on partners as well as children. Divorce drains the partners financially as the family property gets evenly divided between them and the lawyers have to be paid a hefty fee. Divorce has emotional cost too, as children and partners slip into depression and insecurity. There are many reasons why divorce rate has been increasing over the years and today has become quite a phenomenon. Some of the prominent ones are given below.

Liberation of Women

Women never before in history had it as good as they have it now. Today, it is politically incorrect to suppress women in any way. There are draconian laws against gender discrimination. True, the glass ceiling still exists but it has got a lot higher.

Liberation of women is one of the main reasons why divorce rate has climbed up so high. Women today get the same education as men and have the same qualifications. They also are offered the same career opportunities. Women earn a good amount of money and can easily finance their own lifestyle as well as their children’s. They do not need men anymore as bread-earners.

Relaxation of Social Mores

Social mores comprise the collective will of the society as to how individuals should behave. The tighter and more elaborate these mores and customs are, the less the personal space available to individuals. In societies with tight social norms, individual thinking is discouraged and people are forced to suppress their own aspirations and likes and dislikes to conform to the expectations of the society.

In the modern world, the net cast over the citizens by social mores and customs has loosened to a great extent. People today are not much bothered about what the society expects of them. They want to do their own thing and walk out of relationships they don’t want to be in.

Liberal Divorce Laws

Legislatures in a democracy represent the collective will of the society. As social mores have relaxed and divorce has become common, the law-makers have kept pace with this change. New marriage and divorce laws have been formulated that make it quite easy to get a divorce, sometimes in as little as two months. Also, judges too are quite sympathetic and understanding of couples wanting to end their married life. They no longer view it with consternation or treat it as an assault on social order and conscience.

Liberal divorce laws have gone a long way in making the divorce rate climb up. These days, if both the partners have agreed to part amicably, they do not even have to go to the court to file for divorce. There are DIY divorce outfits online that can get them divorce sitting at home.

Rise of Individualism

Individuals are today the basic building blocks of society. As long as they stay within the limits of the law, no one is bothered about what they are doing or how they are living their life. Social rebellion and thumbing their nose at social mores is what people, particularly teenagers, revel in today.

For them, how they want to live their life is more important than all social and parental expectations put together. Often, they put their own individual interest before their partner’s or family’s interest. Rise of individualism and decline of family values have also resulted in a high divorce rate.

Social Acceptability

People do not have any problems going for divorce today because it has become socially acceptable. It is quite common-place and does not raise eyebrows anymore. Go to any office or neighbourhood, and you will find people who have divorced their earlier partners and remarried. Divorce does not make news anymore and people do not think twice before walking out of bad marriages. There is no stigma attached to divorce.

Increasing Wealth and Hedonistic Attitude

Western societies have been enjoying a very high per capita income for the last century or more. China and India have begun to rise too and will join the league of rich nations by 2040 or even earlier. Wealth is creating a consumption-oriented hedonistic attitude among people. They want to enjoy life and live it to the full. They no longer want to make any sacrifices or delay gratification.

Many people switch partners frequently as they get bored of the relationship in some years. Many celebrities are serial divorcees, marrying again and again just for the pleasure of being close to another individual. This attitude of pleasure and enjoyment is also responsible for the high divorce rate.