Divorce rates have been steadily decreasing in the last few decades. However, there is still a trend in most heterosexual divorces where one spouse seeks divorce more than the other.
In 2017, sociology professor Michael Rosenfeld conducted a study between 2009 and 2015 where he found that women initiated divorce much more than men. According to the report, women initiated 69% of divorces over the years.
These findings left many people wondering: why do more women than men pursue divorce?
Of course, there are several reasons that different women seek a divorce. However, Rosenfeld determined a few reasons that could be behind the higher rate of women seeking divorces.
Most women nowadays are more financially independent
Gender roles in society have changed significantly over the years. Women are working and earning more than they have ever before. In fact, MarketWatch reports that women earn more than their husbands in roughly 40% of American households.
This was not the case in decades past. Many women stayed in unhappy marriages in the mid-1900s because they worried about their financial security. After all, it was not until the 1960s that more women began joining the workforce in large numbers.
It is rare for women to be dependent on their husband’s income nowadays. So, if they are unhappy in the marriage, they often feel more comfortable pursuing a divorce.
The lack of quality in a relationship can lead women to file for divorce
Several elements can influence the quality of a relationship, including but not limited to:
- How physically and emotionally safe individuals feel with their partner;
- The mutual respect partners have for each other; and
- The support that partners provide each other.
According to Rosenfeld, women are more likely to analyze these elements and determine:
- Whether or not they are happy in the relationship; and
- Whether or not their needs are being met in the relationship.
Since women are more likely to evaluate the quality of the relationship, they are more likely to file for divorce if a relationship does not meet their needs.
Regardless of these trends or the reasons Virginia couples pursue a divorce, the experienced attorneys at Bowen Ten Long & Bal, PC, are here to help. We are committed to helping individuals navigate every step of their divorce while protecting their current and future best interests.