Is The Current Divorce Rate For Couples?

Marriage rates have decreased in the United States, in the 1970s there were 76.5 marriages for 1000 unmarried women over 15 years of age and in 2008 it dropped to 34.8 marriages for 1000 unmarried women (Lee and Payne 2010). Marriage rates have decreased for a number of reasons, education attainment, religion, change of social norms, and many more. According to Jeremy E. Uecker and Charles E. Stokes (2008), the age of marriage is related to school enrollment. Right after high school, at the age of 18, there is more of a chance of marriage at this time then in the age of 19, the reason for this is that at the age of 19 most young adults are entering college and not focused on relationships and marriage (Uecker and Stokes 2008). The chance

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.

Modern, contemporary society’s mindset on marriage has shifted considerably over the years. Some research has noted the increase in early sexual experiences, greater acceptance of cohabitation and the increase in narcissistic tendencies, are complicating and muddying the ideals of what marriage means to people today. Research done on this subject resulted in several studies that found that spouses who did not believe that marriage would last forever, were less likely to commit to the relationship financially and were more likely to have extramarital affairs.

I agree with Carlyle in a sense where with work “there is a perennial nobleness, and even sacredness”. Work is what keeps us as humans constantly progressing in the aspects of science, architecture and medicine. I believe that this statement speaks for all occupations and is not limited to some.

The relation between cohabitation and divorce rates can also be explained through the use of Deviance. Deviance is a theory in which a society views an action as unacceptable (William and Thorton 2014). Cohabitation has transferred from being deviant to a social norm in past years. Those who cohabit are no longer a minority. For this reason the Deviance Theory is a possible explanation as to why there has been a shift in the relation between premarital cohabitation and divorce rates.

Long before 1970, divorce was relatively uncommon. Getting a divorce was very tedious. At that time, you could only get a divorce under grounds of adultery, abandonment, cruelty, intoxication or any other serious reason to no longer be together. What has changed and why has the divorce rate raised to 50% of all marriages? Divorce rates has raised to 50% because of society changes, view of monogamy, and young marriages.

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.

An important question that is being asked in America, Is Monogamy over? In my opinion, No. The definition of monogamy to me is being intimate, sexual or emotional, with one person for a period of time. Many people are questioning monogamy because of so many broken homes and broken relationships, but is it because of the monogamy issue in the United States? Or is the problem much deeper? Maybe the definition of monogamy has changed? I think if a relationship begins with trust and strong communication monogamy will be easier to attain. I also believe the more spiritual/religious a couple is, monogamy is possible. And lastly, the happier and more satisfied an individual is in a relationship the easier it is to be in a monogamous relationship.

Relationships can either be monogamous or non-monogamous in nature and its definitions and functions can vary. A monogamous relationship is traditionally characterised by two individuals who have dependent children or also as a ‘nuclear family.’ Monogamy is a hetero-normative practice that involves two individuals in a relationship; the couple is not engaged in extramarital intimacy. Nuclear families also fall under this practice. Polyamory is a non-monogamous practice that refers to multiple intimate partners and experiences. However, some scholars argue that if, or when one individual engages in infidelity, Polyamory is a viable option to sustain the relationship. Academic research positions Polyamory as an option that may successfully

Civilization can no longer equate to a “sense of permanence” (Jackson 548). America is always on it’s feet, finding new ways to improve every second. If a strong momentum spells out dark age, then America is already living in a world without light. This dark age isn’t so bad because it isn’t dark at all. Life is full of bright new ideas and “a time of impermanence and uncertainty” is not something to fear (Jackson 554). Maggie Jackson is completely right when she says that humans are “consumed by the vast time and energy simply required to survive the ever-increasing complexity of our systems of living”(554). A complex society takes substantial amounts of attention from it’s people; it’s people manage no less. Growing complexity is a part of evolution and fragmented attention is not a sign of less wisdom but of increased capacity for more wisdom. Jackson sarcastically asks “What if we’re all slowly, and with lots of stumbles, learning to adapt to a new world, where multitasking, split-second decision making, information surfing, bullet pointing, and virtual romancing is the new norm?” (550). However, her derisive theory holds truth and that truth is: Life is already consumed by distraction. No dark age is coming. The only era awaiting mankind is the era of evolution, where life is constantly and prosperously moving

As human civilization advances, the more tolerant society has become to behaviors that used to be regarded as appalling and immoral. One of these behaviors is becoming divorced. According to a recent guidebook for couples who are in the midst of a divorce or considering divorce, 70% of Americans believe that divorce is a morally acceptable choice (Hawkins, 2009). This new understanding of divorce has played a significant role in the choice that many Americans have made to separate from their spouse. According to researchers in the United States 40%-50% of first marriages and 60% of second marriages will end in separation (Hawkins, 2009). Married couples in the United States are finding it difficult to remain committed to their spouses and it 's resulting in many failed relationships. Unless American citizens have a major epiphany about the foundation of marriage, the high divorce rate in the United States will continue and could escalate even higher in the next few decades for a variety of reasons including religion, finances, and adultery.

According to W. John Kress, planet Earth has never seen a larger change than it has since humans came along (Borenstein). Many

Can you recall the last time you didn’t use technology, the last time you did not use your phone, smart watch, laptop, or tv? Can you think of an answer, no, okay. How about an easier question, when is the last time you used technology? Maybe last night before you went to bed? This morning to turn off your alarm? Or maybe right now to check what time the class is over. Either way you have probably used or will use about an hour of your day on technology. According to Felix Richter, in the article, “Americans Use Electronics Media11+ Hours a Day,” the average person uses technology for 11 or more hours each day. The human being is only awake for 16 to 18 hours a day. So, on average, a person uses 70% of their day on technology that is more than half the time we are awake and active during the day. This percentage increases 5% each year that means that in six years technology will occupy 100% the average humans’ active day.

In the last 25 years, divorce has become a major issue in American society. Since the turn of the century, the divorce rate has held steady between 4.0-3.2 divorces per 1000 people per year (National Vital Statistics System, 2015). With this rising divorce rate, more children are living between parents, or in single family homes, and many of these children have been exposed to altercations between parents, as well as rough custody battles and divorce settlements. Traumatic experiences like these are highly likely to stick with children of divorce throughout their life, especially if the child is older at the time of the divorce.

Building on research conducted in prior decades, family scholars have continued to document the major risk factors for divorce. These factors include marrying as a teenager, being poor, experiencing unemployment, having a low level of education, living with one's future spouse or another partner prior to marriage, having a premarital birth, bringing children from a previous union into a new marriage (especially among mothers), marrying someone of a different race, being in a second- or higher order marriage, and growing up in a household without two continuously married parents (Amato & DeBoer, 2001; Bramlett & Mosher, 2002; Bratter & King, 2008; Sweeney & Phillips, 2004; Teachman, 2002).