Divorce is a Win and a Loss for Parents and Children The divorce rate in today’s society according to Barbara Dafoe Whitehead is higher than ever. Although people have a legal right to file for divorce, it is still viewed as an ethical problem. Barbara Dafoe Whitehead writes in “The Making of a Divorce Culture”, that divorce has become an ethical problem in the United States. In today’s society, divorce is viewed as a social norm, and that couples should have a right to file for divorce with no stigma. Although Whitehead argues that divorce is an ethical issue, she also shows reasons why couples should carefully think of filing for divorce before making a final decision such as their children’s consideration. Whitehead successfully presents the divorce culture as a very serious ethical problem by giving ideas of why parents are getting divorced, and how their children can be effected by it. Although divorce is viewed as an ethical problem, people still have the right to file for a divorce if it is for their own satisfaction. We never know what happens behind closed doors between a couple, and what types of issues they are going through. Whitehead mentions in her article about how abusive and how demolorizing some relationships can be. In her article, Whitehead states “We must assume that divorce is necessary as a remedy for irretrievably broken marriages, especially those that are marred by severe abuse such as chronic infidelity, drug addiction, or physical
The divorce rate in the United States is higher than fifty percent today. The divorce rate continues to increase in America due to many reasons, one of them being that society today is a disposable society. Back in the day, when someone had a broken shoe he or she would fix it, and if there was a problem with a couple’s marriage, the two would work through it. But today, it is easier to ignore the problem, throw away what we do not like anymore and move on to the next, which is not the right way to live. In Lorrie Moore’s “A Kid’s Guide to Divorce”, Moore writes about a child and his or her mother. The two are sitting in their living room watching TV as they
In the 1970’s, divorce was relatively uncommon and difficult to happen. There needed to be adultery, abandonment, cruelty, intoxication or some other reason that made it necessary to end the marriage (“Why”). In today’s society, divorce happens every ten to thirteen seconds. Men and women fall in love, get married, and start a family. They make a vow to stay together forever and love each other unconditionally. However, not all marriages make it that far. Divorce occurs for multiple reasons such as financial problems, abuse, addictions, infidelity (cheating), and lack of communication. These factors, along with many others, not only affect the parents, but the children are affected as well.
In the introduction to the article, the authors David Gately and Andrew Schwebel best wrote “Karl Zinsmeister uses studies of children and divorce to argue against the contention made by many parents that it is better to divorce than to rear children in a marriage with conflict. He maintains that children’s sense of stability and family structure supersedes parental needs.” Throughout the article Zinsmeister uses the headings “Fear and Loathing of Divorce Among the Young”, “Short and Long-Term effects of Divorce on Children”, and “A Catalogue of Behavioral Changes” as a platform to prove/explain his opinions and back them by research.
There is a staggeringly large amount of divorces in the United States (US). In total, the US had a recorded total of 2,140,272 marriages in the year 2014 alone, and of those marriages, 813,862 ended up in divorce or annulment (Center for Disease Control). This means that as recently as 2014, there was a divorce rate of approximately 40%. This supports the statistics that the divorce rate for the US has stayed within 40-50% since the 1970’s (Austin Institute, 2014). While the numbers themselves are important, it is also important that the causes for the high divorce rate be explored, so that it can be known what pitfalls to avoid when participating in such an important union as marriage. There are many causes of divorce in the US such as conflicting gender roles, socioeconomic status, religious conflicts, physical abuse, emotional abuse, alcohol addictions, and many more (Amato & Previti, 2003). This paper will look at many of these reasons, but it will also focus on the differing reasons reported by men and women.
In today’s modern world things are easily obtainable, people prefer instant gratification. If a married couple is not happy, instead of working things out, they seek instant gratification and an end to their misery which is a divorce. I believe marriage vows are not taken as seriously today as they were in past generations. When children are involved with a divorce the stakes go much higher. A divorce is a life changer for children, their lives become less stable and more disruptive. Instead of sleeping in the same comfortable bed every night, they often find themselves torn between two homes and two people that have a great dislike for one another.
The United States of America is the land of the free and the home of the brave; however, it can also be called the country that holds the highest divorce rates. America’s divorce rate in 2010 was at forty one percent and is still currently growing (Divorce Rates by Country). Forty percent of these divorces had children involved (Divorce Rates in America). With such shocking statistics, it is easy to see that America’s divorce system is in dire need of change. Since divorce can ruin families, harm a child’s all around well-being, and holds the potential of being prevented, there should be more strict regulations to receive a divorce and a stronger push for covenant marriages.
As generations pass by, divorce is becoming more of a social norm than a problem between two individuals. Divorce once was a private household issue but it became widespread only a couple of decades ago. According to the statistics, in the 1950s only 3% of families got divorced and in the 1960s it was already 10%. In the 1980s, 33% of families opted for divorce due to various environmental factors. Recent studies in Canada today, show that the rate of divorce is changing to an extent such that 4 in 10 marriages end in separation. Divorce is a sensitive concept which lies beyond two individuals simply falling out of love as is both the cause and an effect. The many factors that contribute to divorce are extramarital affairs, financial struggles, and the lack of communication.
Throughout time, practices that were once never used, become more common. In the 1600s divorce was a forbidden practice or a last resort. Since then, laws have changed, and so hasn’t the stigma related with divorce. The guilt and fault that divorce once carried has vanished. According to the book Should I Keep Trying to Work it out, “In the United States, researchers estimate that 40%–50% of all first marriages will end in divorce or permanent separation. The risk of divorce is even higher for second marriages, about 60%.” (Hawkins 42). As it became more common for couples in America to separate, divorce gradually became a normal part of so many lives. Why are so many couples separating now? Through research on EBSCO, and other findings, I will attempt to explain this question that so many people ask in today’s world. The divorce rate in America is drastically increasing over time due to new laws, certain generations, and relationship issues.
There is a great epidemic in the world today it’s called divorce. Divorce has affected so many families but most of all the children. “What may offer humanizing freedom for parents may be dehumanizing void for children.”( Root, A. 2010) Do you know why divorce is dehumanizing? “When dehumanization is in play there is little, if any consideration of the impact their betrayal will have on their mate.”(Reynolds,n.d.) According to Andrew Root divorce has deep and long lasting effects on children because it undermines a child’s ontological security. The divorce rate in the United States is the highest in the world. Over fifty percent of marriages end up in divorce.(Corcoran,K.O. 1994). Psychological and Emotional aspects of divorce.) What I’m going
Divorce is a rising social issue in the United States of America, but it is not a new concept. Divorce has been a social issue since at least 1867 when for every 35.9 marriages, one couple were to get a divorce (Huth, 1947). Although divorce is not a new concept, it has become more social acceptance which is raising the divorce rate over the years. Another controversial topic in divorce is when the two people divorcing have a child or children together. Approximately 150,000-200,000 children in the United States of America are affected by divorce yearly (Huth, 1947).
The best way to teach others how divorce, in certain relationships, frees the families from bondage is by using personal experience because individuals who have experienced divorce find it easier to explain the facts of divorce. From childhood, many parents teach their children that divorce is wrong and that there becomes a way to fix the circumstances. At a young age, Kingsolver inherited a definition of divorce from her family and friends. Kingsolver held these beliefs about divorce: “That it 's a lazy way out of marital problems. That it selfishly puts personal happiness ahead of family integrity.”(Kingsolver). Society teaches the principle of family integrity, and that when the spouse of a divorce leaves they are only thinking for themselves. Although, principles do change and the perception of divorce can change too. Kingsolver, from experience, claims, “I had no idea how thoroughly these assumptions overlaid my culture until I went through divorce myself.”(Kingsolver). Divorce is commonly misunderstood, and frowned upon, but the many who face such trials are left with the understanding of what divorce really extracts from families, and the
Divorce is becoming all too popular in our society today. When a couple experience tough times or have one too many arguments, they automatically think divorce. Despite its prevalence couples are not prepared for it’s long, drawn out, hurtful process. Divorce does not only hurt the individuals involved, it also affects the children tremendously. While many people don’t think divorce is a bad thing. Hollywood makes divorce look cool and uneventful. When in all reality, it is disruptive. Some people would say that divorce is a lazy way out of a marriage; the cowardly thing to do when a situation presents itself. Divorce is not the only answer to marital problems, in most cases.
Harvey and Fine say, in their book on the effects of divorce on children, that divorce has increased at a “contagious rate since 1980.” They argue that divorce in America is a “cultural burden of vast proportions,” and insist that the “pain extends beyond the persons who dissolve their relationships to children, parents, and dear friends.” Harvey and Fine
The sanctity of marriage has seemed to have disappeared with the arrival of the 21st century. Though marriage rates have always fluctuated in the past, current events have caused divorce rates to increase. According to recent statistics made by the census bureau, the divorce rate in America is roughly 50 percent. There are a myriad of speculations as to why more people are not staying together. One reason is that people are getting married for the wrong reasons, such as unplanned pregnancies. Another reason is that women have become more independent so that they are not forced in to being in a marriage where they are not happy. Last, lenient divorce laws make it much easier for many couples to get divorced. Combined, these three
Divorce is a plague that is destroying numerous families across the United States of America. Sadly, when husbands and wives divorce, the children are often caught directly in the middle. Throughout the years divorce has been becoming more and more common. In the 1920's it was a rare find to know a person whom had been divorced, today it is a rarity not to know of one who has been, or will be divorced. Divorce has numerous effects on the structures of families, and many devastating effects on the children that must experience it, although sometimes necessary, divorce radically changes the lives of adolescents and adults alike.