Why Divorce Rate has Grown Over the Decades

Marriage is, therefore, essential for propagation of human race. That is why this institution has been such a success for thousands of years.



Time was when marriage was considered a sacred, lifelong bond. The partners were supposed to live together till "death do us apart." Separation of husband and wife was unheard of. Those days are long gone. In the last five decades, a sea change has occurred in people's attitude toward marriage. It has lost its sanctity. People now do not think twice before separating and going their own independent ways. Divorce rate has grown by leaps and bounds since the 1970s. In some countries, about half of all marriages are destined to end in divorce!



Such a high divorce rate is not good in any way. It has grave implications for individuals as well as the society as a whole. Divorced families take a heavy toll on the emotional health of children who are vulnerable and need the affection and tenderness provided by the mother as well as the guidance, discipline and security provided by the father.



The real damage is done by the pre-divorce stress and anxiety in the house which may last for years before the actual separation takes place. For society, such casual marriages and separations are bound to cause social instability whose real effects will get manifested a few generations down the line.



Why has divorce rate grown so much? This has never happened before in history. It is a phenomenon that has begun to take shape since the last four or five decades. There are many causes that are behind the galloping divorce rate.



Empowerment of Women



The biggest social change witnessed since Second World War is empowerment of women. They have become liberated and are no longer chained to home and hearth. The same educational opportunities are available to them as to men, and today they do the same jobs and earn the same amount of money.



The financial independence of women means that they can live alone with their children and still take good care of them in terms of lifestyle and education. If stuck in an oppressive marriage, they can afford to walk out and look for other opportunities.



Relaxed Social Mores



Social customs and mores were quite rigid and uncompromising five decades back. Then occurred the youth rebellion of the 1970s which gave rise to a generation of hippies who smoked pot and indulged in free sex. The "flower children" emphasised individual rights and the freedom to live their lives as they wanted. This was the onset of liberalism and tolerance in the society toward individual behaviour. People accepted that everybody had the right to take their own decisions. Divorce lost its social stigma.



Rise of Individualism



Since the 1970s, individual rights have become more important than what the society expects from people. Today, each person is his or her own master. Going against social norms has become a fashion statement, as shown by the phenomenon of punk hairstyles. The same thing has happened with divorce. It is taken as thumbing one's nose at social norms by an individual. Divorce has become acceptable and a sign of a mature and assertive person.



Liberal Divorce Laws



As social mores have changed and women have become liberated, divorce laws have become liberal and relaxed. No longer do they impose impossible conditions before a divorce can be granted and neither do the judges consider it an assault on social conscience or structure. When both the partners want to split amicably and have come to an agreement on all issues, they are usually granted a divorce in as little as two months.



Modern Lifestyle



Today's lifestyle is fundamentally different from what it was just a couple of decades ago. People have many opportunities to mingle and strike up new romantic relationships. It is easier to keep in touch with others through mobile phones and emails. Internet chatting has sounded the death knell of distance and one can make friends with people whom one has never met.



The job-driven modern lifestyle means that people today spend more time outside the home than inside it. Social circles have become wide and one gets to meet dozens of new people each month, from neighbours and office colleagues to bar buddies and sport partners in local clubs. It is easy to develop friendships with others and enter into extramarital affairs which, in turn, are a major cause of divorce.