How Does Divorce Affect Middle Adulthood

With the third highest divorce rate in the world, the US has long been considered to have serious problems with long-term marriage commitments (United Nations). However, in contrary to common belief, divorce rates have actually steadily lowered for two decades now, providing hope for new couples that their love may last (Swanson). Past surges in the divorce rate have been commonly blamed on those in early adulthood who “rush” into marriage without truly getting to know their partner. But this common belief is no more than a myth, and one particular group has continued to experience a surge in divorce rates: middle adulthood (Craig & Dunn 428). Social changes that reduce gender disparities, advances in medicine leading to increased life spans, and a growing focus on professional careers have collectively contributed to the rise in divorce rates for those in middle adulthood. This demographic group will likely continue to experience these elevated levels of divorce for some years, as society has …show more content…
Feminism, expressed through political, social, and economic means has increased the power of women and greatly raised their status in society. An important predictor for divorce is being able to support one’s self after the marital ties are severed (Brown & Lin 732). A diminishing wage gap and greater individual economic power on behalf of women means that divorce is a viable option, because the expenses of independence that follow can be afforded by a woman’s job. Within the Virtual Life Program, my wife worked and could probably have easily supported herself if we divorced. As those in middle adulthood begin to discover and appreciate this new opportunity, divorce rates have climbed accordingly. Similarly, younger generations have grown up with the economic disparities between genders existing as more of a background characteristic, not something front and