I know for a fact that some of you have divorced parents. I could make that assumption without knowing who you are, where you're from, or what your parents were even like. Statistics speak rather loudly in this case; because your parent's met in the United States, their chances of actually staying married are about 50/50, depending how old they were when they got married. According to the January 2001 edition of The American Prospect, the United State's divorce rate tripled from 1960 to 1981, peaking at 53 percent, but has since gone down to 40 percent. When taking into account that this study views divorce rates in the general public, including toddlers, elders, homosexuals and heterosexuals, the numbers really begin to stand out(The American Prospect, 2001). Divorce is a debilitating venture. Before the 20th century, it was hard to obtain a divorce from one's partner, adultery, abuse, abandonment, and alcoholism were the only verifiable reasons.
Divorce is seen as an easy solution to a complicated problem. Money is one of the most fought over ideals in marriage. Monetary security is important for a stable family, so when it becomes an issue or if it began as an issue, separation and divorce are more likely to ensue. Of course this is one of many reasons but I believe it applies to many situations..including mine. Perhaps an enstatement of a lesser burden than marriage, where couples can move in together and maintain some of the same rights as married people. Perhaps I'm thinking too Utopian like. What do you think?
