There has been a staggering 600% increase in divorce rates over the last few decades. Every 3rd Briton is terminating marital life inadvertently making the
This high divorce rate can be attributed to the ‘Divorce Reform Act’ of 1969 that came in effect in 1972. 27,000 couples divorced in the year of 1961. In 1969, 56,000 divorces took place. And, in 1972, the divorce rates again doubled to stand at 125,000. The commonly held belief is that the ‘Divorce Reform Act’ has increased the rate of divorce. But, this belief is held to subjective speculation. Easy divorce laws do not always translate to increase in divorce rates. People do not divorce just because the law entails them the freedom to do so. The changes in the law have only helped unhappily married people seek recourse by allowing divorce on the ground of irrevocable breakdown of marriage. Many of the unhappily married people are divorcing and seeking better alternatives at qualitative improvements to their life. Age, is no more a restraining factor. And, this is proved by the increase in the divorce rates of older aged couples.
Increased Life Expectancy
People are living longer. The average life expectancy of a British woman is 79.9 years and of a man is 75 years. People in their 60s and 70s are increasingly divorcing for they have much more life left that cannot be spent in a constant state of unhappiness. The changed attitude towards marital termination is also a factor inducing them into this bold decision.
Social Acceptance of Divorce
Earlier, fear of societal opinion had prevented many from divorcing. With the disappearance of the social stigma the restraining force slackened which resulted in increase in divorce rates. Along with the change in social attitude has come a change in the social values held.
Change in Social Values
Social values have greatly changed in the
Liberation and Empowerment of Women
93% divorce cases are initiated by women petitioners. One major reason for this is the great reduction in economic dependence on men. Suitable changes in the British law enabled women to own family properties.
Prior to the industrial revolution, the
Industrialisation changed the economic scenario. Women gained economic power and they refused to be ill treated. Emotional and physical abuses were met with resistance. (This is a trend that is still continuing.) 6 out of 10 women petitioners divorce to escape their abusive spouse.
The just economic settlements awarded at divorce have also ensured that lone women families no longer suffer in poverty. Invariably women are awarded better or equal financial settlements during divorce. However, the increase in women office goers has left them with little time for communicating with their spouse.
Lack of Communication
Low communication level soon turns life monotonous and the boredom in marital life becomes another causative factor for divorce.
The combined effect of all these factors has cumulatively increased divorce rates. But, one worrisome fact that emerges of this picture is that divorce is no longer indicative of marital unhappiness. For, unhappiness is an abstract term left to individual interpretation. It is highly advisable that every mildly unhappy couple should work at sustaining their marital life.
In fact, every marriage requires hard work to make it a success. Though it is difficult to make high conflict marriages a success, the low conflict marriages can easily survive with a little effort by both the partners. Unfortunately, divorces in the
