Reasons for the Rise in Divorce Rates

The current divorce rate in the UK stands at 14 per thousand marriages. The individuals within the age group of 25 to 29 seem to be most prone to divorce. Average age at first divorce for men happens to be 42.7 years, while in the case of women it is 40.2 years. On the average, a marriage in the UK lasts for about 11.5 years. Of all the divorcing couples, 69 percent are never married before. 59 percent of the divorcing couples had at least one minor child at the time of divorce. With the marital scenario in the nation being on fire, every third person seems to be rushing for counseling. Various reasons can be cited for this unprecedented rise in the divorce rates.

Female Emancipation

Increase in the general levels of education and ample job opportunities, has lead to a marked shift in the gender roles. Earlier only men were expected to be the sole bread winners for the entire family. With enhanced levels of education and skills, women are fast becoming an active component of the English work force. With their new found social and financial freedom, women no longer seem to be willing to accept the traditional patriarchal preferences. They not only vociferously oppose them, but, strongly assert their opinions, preferences and views. Traditional male hegemony is under attack. The fairer sex is actively vying for an equal status and seems to be willing to pay any price for it. Failure on the part of an egoistic male stubbornness to amicably reconcile to this new reality is to a great extent responsible for this increase in the divorce rates. 69 percent of all the divorces in the year 2004 were granted to the wife. Of these, 52 percent of the divorces were granted on the basis of the husband’s behaviour.

Changing Social Norms

With the increased secularization of the contemporary society, the conventional Judeo-Christian norms seem to be fading away, giving way to a more open society. The traditional arbiters of morality and ethics like the Church no longer hold the same sway over a large section of the population. People’s approach towards the domestic problems is becoming more liberal and pragmatic. Nobody seems to be willing to bear with a lousy marriage, just for the sake of religion, public opinion or hollow commitments. People genuinely feel that it is more salubrious to end an unhappy marriage then to carry on with it to the detriment of the entire family. Society seems to be increasingly supportive of this new trend. In fact the divorce has become a novel social institution in itself. Once you decide in favour of a divorce, chances are that you will easily come across many institutions and organizations that are willing to help you.

Communication Gap

The modern man seems to be facing the dilemma of being lonely amidst a crowd. People have simply lost touch with the fine art of being together. Busy with their careers and professional lives, individuals easily succumb to the pressure of earning more, at the cost of their family lives and other important domestic responsibilities. A lack of communication between the spouses gives way to misunderstandings, doubts and intolerance. Increased professional pressures and sky high expectations easily deprive the individuals of that pristine human touch, vital for the survival of any marriage. Spouses become strangers to each other in their own homes, lacking any emotions of sympathy and empathy for each other. In such a tense scenario, small differences achieve massive proportions and may lead to divorce.

Relaxed Divorce Laws

Considering the high divorce rates, there is an increased tendency on the part of the law makers, to make the divorce laws more liberal and relaxed. Courts mostly tend to go easy on the divorce suits. People simply consider a divorce to be a mere legal formality and prefer to get away with it, as easily and quickly as possible. The High Street is fraught with the ever increasing number of solicitors, marketing a quick divorce. Though these steps may make the divorce process, more hassle free and simple, yet, they are depriving this important social institution of the necessary drag effect, which should genuinely precede it.

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