Divorce - What are
its Implications for the Contemporary Society
Divorce rates in many countries increased markedly towards the latter part of the 20th century. It is customary to quote that half of all marriages carried out in countries such as the USA, United Kingdom and members of the European Union, as well as developed countries in the Commonwealth, will sooner or later end in divorce. These are not good odds to think about when one is about to take the big step and walk down the aisle. Out of the developed countries, the divorce rate is lowest in Japan, but even here these numbers have begun to increase in recent years.
Research has shown that the main cause of divorce always seems to be extra-marital affairs. It would seem that men engage in extra-marital affairs three times more often than women. The next main reason for divorce was family strain, and in 78% of the time this was caused by the woman's family. Maybe there is just an element of truth in the 'mother-in-law' stories after all. The next reason given for divorce was emotional and physical abuse. Surprisingly these statistics are more evenly distributed with men affected in around 40% of the cases and women in around 60%. The fourth reason stated for divorce was because one of the partners was a workaholic. Men were the leaders here in at least 70% of the cases.
Divorce assistance is needed, otherwise it can become a really messy affair. Naturally an amicable split is to everyone's advantage, but this is so much easier said than done. The implications of divorce can be huge, and it can lead to significant emotional, psychological and financial strains. The extent of these implications will also be greatly affected by the varying attitudes towards divorce held by different societies.
Interestingly, nearly all divorce cases are petitioned by women, and it would seem that the first 5 years of marriage are relatively divorce-free, and if a couple survives 20 years, then it is unlikely that they will end up getting a divorce. The issue of child custody in divorce has undergone many changes over the past couple of decades. Sole custody used to be awarded usually to the woman in the divorce courts, together with the family home and alimony payments from the former husband. These days, more than often, joint custody is awarded. This is a much fairer outcome, and it has actually been proven that in counties where joint custody is usually awarded, that the rate of divorce tends to drop.
Divorces up until recent times have usually been handled by solicitors. This has always been a stressful and costly affair. With the advent of the internet, it is now possible for many people to apply for a divorce online. This has had the effect of lowering the charges considerably. The internet-based-divorce services are available all over the world, but most of them are in the English speaking countries, such as the UK, USA and the Commonwealth. Once the application has been completed, it is then filed with the court. Divorce can be a quite simple procedure providing there are no conflicts regarding property or children. |
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