With the rise of divorce in the United States, it is time to take another look at what may be some of the implications of this trend. The breakdown of marriage is resulting in some real implications for the labor force as well as traditional family roles. This also means that Americans are beginning to redefine the way that they look at the typical American family.
Historically, this was not very common phenomenon in the United States until the twentieth century. Despite its existence dating back to years of Roman Empire, many of the cultural norms in the US were tied to religious beliefs, which tended to look down upon couples that decided to legally separate.
More recently, shifts in the workforce have shifted some of the family roles in the US. In the United States, it is estimated that almost half of all marriages are composed of one or both spouses who were previously married. Approximately forty percent of marriages ended in divorce as of 2008.
During the latter half of the twentieth century, more women began to work and take on roles outside of the traditional household. It is not immediately evident whether the participation of women in the labor market created tension in the household that led to separation. It is also possible that the need for more income in the family is to explain for the increased participation of women in the workforce.
With many families traditionally constructed in a two-parent household, the departure of one parent can result in big changes for both the parents and children, if any. The law tends to side with mothers when it comes to two parents separating but even this is not an ironclad rule, as more fathers are taking lead custody.
Whereas there used to be a very clear delineation between the role of women and role of men within the household, it is now fuzzier. Combined with more women working, some children are taking on more household responsibilities at an earlier age. This can lead to tension in the household over parenting decisions.
In America, divorce can be expensive and complicated process. Many financial planners now advise couples to consider a prenuptial agreement. While not a romantic way to begin a marriage, financial planners favor them because they allow better protection of assets in case of separation. In particular, it can protect the spouse who has the more assets and also allow couples to avoid extensive legal fees.
By: Deborah Page