Till Death Do Us Part... Or Not?

Divorce is one thing that no couple wants to face. Although divorce rates are dropping due to today's economy and the fact that divorces cost so much, they are still occurring and putting people through the heartache that no one wants to face (Douthat). But what are the main causes of divorce? How do the vows taken at the altar not hold "till death do us part?" There are a variety of reasons as to why divorces occur and couples choose to no longer be married, but we will focus on a few main components. Marriage is no longer a sacred bond between a man and a woman, but instead just becoming part of life.

It must first be examined why a marriage is necessary and the reasons as to why a life partner can overall make life happier and more successful. Marriage has a few basic functions including procreation, division of labor, and economic production and consumption (Clarke-Stewart 30). For the couples who decide to have children, raising a child alone can be difficult, thus having a partner to discuss issues that arise and another adult there for the child can be very helpful. It can also be quite hard to raise a child while having a full time job to support the family; thus having the other adult and partner to divide up the work can ease tension and allow the couple to rely on each other to strengthen their marriage.

Although there are some important aspects of married life, there are couples who cannot make it through a successful relationship and instead choose to get divorced. There is not usually one specific reason why a divorce occurs, but instead a variety of issues that lead to the ultimate end to a marriage. Since women have had more of a stand in the workplace over the past decade, they have begun to contribute 30-40% of the household income, and since they are now more financially independent, "the likelihood they would marry decreased and the chance of divorce increased" (Clarke-Stewart 32). Financial independence can lead to feelings of total independence, and due to this, women feel that they do not need a partner and end up divorcing their husbands. However, many do not realize that court proceedings are not cheap, and a "multi-million dollar divorce case eventually turned into a bankruptcy case" due to all of the time and fees included in a divorce case becoming finalized (Herman 190). Being financially independent for a time does not provide security for a lifetime, so it is important to consider the future when thinking about a divorce just because money is no longer an issue.

Another major factor that influences divorce rates is the age of a couple when they get married. Younger marriages lead to less years being married and a much higher divorce rate. Women who marry under the age of 18 have a 48% divorce rate as opposed to those who are over 30, who have a 24% divorce rate (Clarke-Stewart 36). Psychologists claim that the reason of decrease in divorces as people get older is due to the fact that younger people are still developing as a person overall and are more likely to change than those who have already experienced college and the real world.

As interesting as it may sound, 25% of women blame their divorce on the internet (Clarke-Stewart 30). Since the internet is now full of dating sites and other places for people to meet, they claim it is easier to meet someone who seems more compatible than their current husband. Whether or not they regret this in a few years, the internet is one of the larger sources that women choose to blame their ended realtionship on.

Perhaps the most significant reason couples choose to divorce in today's society is the economic status of America. "The divorce rate and the business cycle move in unison," because it is based upon how the economy is running in the status quo and how it is directly related to the number of divorces that are occurring (South 31). When the economy is up and jobs are readily available, there are less divorces due to individuals not being very stressed, which helps married life as it takes away unnecessary stress that can be brought into the relationship. However, when the economy is at a lower point and there are not as many jobs available, the divorce rate tends to increase due to more tension coming home from the workplace and a less healthy relationship.

Divorce is one thing that no one wishes for and no couple wants to endure. It is a long process that can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars and cause much more heartache than someone ever wants to experience. There are many aspects that lead to divorce, and although sometimes it is inevitable, fighting through a marriage can be better for some couples who are going through hardship. Once aware of the leading causes of divorce, one can try to ensure to avoid things that can cause separation, like looking at internet dating sites. Every couple is different and will handle their relationship in their own way, but it is important to remember the vows that were taken at the altar: "till death do us part."

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