Virginia residents may benefit from learning more about what compels certain genders to file for divorce or separate from their current spouse. Researchers claim that wives exhibit a higher propensity for initiating divorces than husbands. However, when the couple is not married, the recent study showed that the break-up was equally attributable to both parties. Researchers from the American Sociological Association analyzed surveys from more than 2,200 respondents who shared information on their relationship status from 2009 to 2015.
Researchers determined that the wives initiated nearly 70 percent of the divorces involving heterosexual couples. Initially, social scientists believed women would be more likely to leave both marriages and non-marital relationships due to their potentially heightened sensitivities to the highs and lows of the relationship. However, these researchers now believe that the dynamic may be because traditional marriages and spousal roles may be lacking in terms of modern gender equality.
In contrast, the non-marital relationships may potentially lack the expectations of traditional spousal roles and the animosity or contentiousness that can manifest over time. Researchers claim that the non-marital relationships are better suited for modern gender equality and are more flexible than the traditional marriage. Many of the values and spousal roles established in the traditional marriage are now in stark contrast with the current principles of gender equality that have evolved over time in public venues, such as the workplace.
A person who is facing the end of a marriage and who needs more information about divorce legal issues may benefit from contacting a family law attorney. Legal counsel can outline the property division requirements and attempt to negotiate a settlement agreement that addresses that and other applicable matters.