Americans have had shifting views on divorce. At one time, it was less common and was view unfavorably. Then, in the 1970s, with the widespread adoption of no-fault divorce law and the greater participation of women in the workforce, it became more common and more accepted.
According to a recent study, at least in some groups, acceptance of divorce has fallen in recent years as it has become less common. The number of respondents who agreed with the statement, “Divorce is usually the best solution when a couple can’t seem to work out their marriage problems,” has fallen among college-educated women by 11 percentage points.
Divorce rates have been falling generally among Americans, but especially among well-educated couples. It is possible to attribute the fall in “approval” of divorce as a result of some couples being less exposed to divorce.
They may make the logical fallacy of believing because they have not divorced, others should not divorce. Until, of course, it happens to them. Because this question is hypothetical, the answers are probably less certain.
No one ever expects to be in a car accident, and when it actually happens, it can come as a tremendous shock. Divorce, too, may come as a shock. But it may creep up, as the gradual erosion of your marriage relationship.
Divorce is always intensely personal and you are the only person who can actually decide if it is the “best solution” to unresolvable differences in your marriage.
Source: vox.com, “Americans think divorce is less acceptable than they did a decade ago,” Sarah Kliff and Soo Oh, March 17, 2016
