The Role Of Divorce In American Culture

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.

Throughout history, divorce has remained a controversial topic. Perceptions of divorce have drastically changed essentially because the value of marriage has changed. Marriage was once seen as a practical necessity and an irrevocable commitment. The view of marriage caused divorce to be perceived as a stigma. Divorce in earlier generations was not granted by the court system unless there were extenuating circumstances (Evolution). For example, if the woman in the marriage was unable to conceive children the divorce would be granted to the man. This remained the standard practice until the 1970’s with the introduction of “no-fault divorces” (Croteau).

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.

Over the past decades, how Americans perceive the marital relationship greatly reformed, illuminating society’s values. In the past, marriage use to represent a legal contract to bear children and acquire finances, but today, “In all too many communities in the US, especially poor and minority ones, marriage is a retreat” (Wilcox et al., 2005, p. 5). Rather than observing marriage as an obligation, Americans now perceive a marriage to entail intimate commitments between affectionate partners. America transformed its values from the society and family to the individual level. Of the major values changes, which occurred over the past decades, this article exemplifies an increase in single-parent homes, cohabiting, and divorce. Due to America’s expansion of individualism and materialism, individuals no longer perceive their marriage as life long commitments. This transformation occurred because of a shift in societal values; society no longer places stigma on divorce and single parents, which aided in the increasing numbers of marital shifts. In fact, Americans tend to enter marriages with unrealistic expectations, expecting their partner to fulfill all of their needs without conflict. It stands as our unrealistic expectations and perceptions that caused a shift in marriages.

Divorce is a major sociological issue. Divorce rates continue to rise annually and more and more the definition of ‘family’ begins to change. Around 40% of marriages ended in divorce in 2004 (West). This is an epidemic that at one point shocked many People. While, divorce use to be socially and for many, religiously unacceptable it is becoming more and more a social norm. Even though it is becoming more common for couples to end marital issues with the decision of divorce, it is still a major social problem. Divorce is reshaping our culture (A Sociological Analysis of Divorce and its effects). Many people do not realize that not only does divorce affect the couple, it also greatly impacts any children involved, the extended family and the society as a whole.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2011 there were 2,118,000 marriages in the United States and almost half as many divorces (2013). The CDC also reports that only half of all first marriages will reach their twentieth anniversary. Divorce is a topic everyone is familiar with and it has almost become a normal part of life. While it is assumed that more divorces occur now than in the previous generation, the CDC actually reports that divorce rates have dropped over the past twenty to thirty years, though this could be due to the increase in individuals who live together without ever getting married or those who simply separate and cannot afford to become legally divorced. However, it has become a more

Divorce is a rising issue in the U.S. Many of us think of divorce as a taboo topic. Something that should not be spoken of or feel comfortable with. In fact, some may act out of character when they hear anything related with divorce. It really is not a thing to talk about because of its negativity and is not really brought up in a social setting because of the bad atmosphere it gives off. Although we might say divorce is a terrible thing, we should take into consideration how we can possible help or prevent it because every single person around them are affected. I propose a divorce therapy or clinic in order to prevent or not prevent the biggest possible mistake they could do.

Only a few generations ago, American culture rejected divorce as scandalous. Today, law, behavior, and culture embrace and even celebrate it.

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

Marriage used to be a sacred thing; once you married someone you spend the rest of your life with them. Even some places such as the Philippines and The Vatican City make divorce illegal. Here in America divorces are happening every single day. This social phenomenon is considered problematic. Almost 50% of all marriages end in divorce. When most people think of a divorce, they think of it ending in bad terms due to infidelity; but this is not always the case. It’s important to understand what a divorce is, how it works, who it affects, the consequences, and the solution. Divorce has become way to common; we need to reestablish the sacredness of marriage and the importance of family.

Data from the Bureau of Census Statistical Abstract of the United States published that in 1890 the ratio divorce to marriage was one divorce for every 18 marriages. More than 100 years later, in 2005, the divorce rate had impressively incremented to an astounding rate of one divorce for every 2.1 marriages. Therefore, this augments represents a 40 percent increase in divorce rate in a 100 year period. Additional information found in Hunt/Colander’s Social Science textbook reveals that 40 percent of

Not too long ago, “divorce” was forbidden, unaccepted, unheard of, difficult to get, and considered as an act of sin among married couples. Many changes in the last fifty-years have affected marriage and divorce rates. The rise of the women’s liberation movement, the advent of the sexual revolution, and an increase in women’s labor force participation altered perceptions of gender roles. As of today, in “modern society” divorce has become more acceptable. The guilt and shame of the old divorce laws are gone. More couples are separated and divorcing is becoming part of the norm. (MLR)

Divorce is defined as the legal dissolution of a marriage according to the Oxford English Dictionary. If one wishes to begin a petition for divorce, they must be married for at least a year. Prior to the 1970’s the prevalence of divorce was relatively uncommon. There were specific requirements in which a couple had to meet before being eligible to terminate a marriage. However, towards the end of the 70’s no-fault divorces became a popular option allowing couples to file for whatever reason he or she wanted. In 1969–1970, California became the first state to institute so-called no-fault divorce (Wilcox, 2009). These specific laws had a great effect on the rate of divorce, beginning in the 1970’s. Divorce rose from 8% in the 1900’s to a staggering 33% in 1970’s and continued to rise (“Historical Divorce Rate Statistics”, n.d). Alongside the evolution of divorce came the wave of feminism, which is based on the advocacy of women’s rights. Feminism was quite popular. The new consciousness of feminism allowed wives to fell more at peace leaving their marriages that they found to be unsatisfying.

“DIVORCE” – Just the sound of such word in any married couple or children’s ear can cause great agony that can even become terminal. Research and personal experience, has proven that in today's society, divorce is more common amongst newlyweds. Since 2009 the rate of divorce has increased to approximately forty percent, There are three out of every ten marriage that ends up in divorce before it reaches the stage of maturity, and the most prevalent results are – lack of communication and infidelity.