Not really. 2 videos a sociologist does not make. Up to about 100 years ago, women weren't allowed to work in the workforce in any certain way so to have financial security a woman had to marry or live with her parents. As capital reserves increased and women were allowed to enter the workforce in more numbers they weren't dependent on the institution of marriage to provide martial security. As marriage became optional for women so did the rigidity of staying in marriage. As women could enter and exit marriage easier, it became less about material security and more about whatever the couple wanted it to be. Hence rising divorce rates is an indication of the lessing of the importantance of marriage as the sole means of financial security for a woman and more about whatever reasons they give to marriage and/or the absolving of those reasons that lead to divorce.
The idea that rising divorce rates a symptom of "moral degradation" ( not what your talking about but still mentioned) is completely false. One could say the rising divorce rate is a symphonic of a more "moral" marriage in the sense that they are willingly entered into instead of being forced by the lack of other options.
Yes they are free choices, no doubt. Just because they are that , to say that they are 'love marriages' is non sequitur.
http://www.essay-911.com/samples/highdivorcerate.htmNowadays, divorce is one of the most serious social problems that American society is currently facing. In actuality the divorce rate is constantly growing and in present days it is extremely high this is why it is extremely important to find out the main factors contributing to the growth of the divorce rate and possible solutions of the problem.
First of all, it is necessary to briefly describe the current situation in the US. In this respect, it should be said that nowadays the divorce rate is unparallel and according to specialists (Levinger, Cherlin) it has already over passed 50%. Obviously, such a high level indicates at the fact that the problem of divorce is really serious and some solution of this problem is needed because divorce plays a very significant role in the life of society, family and each individual. To put it more precisely, in the social scale, the high divorce rate deteriorates dramatically the demographic situation within the country since often it prevents people from bearing children. This is why nowadays it is practically a norm when there is only one children in a family and the main reason is divorce because it makes family an extremely unstable institution.
Furthermore, families also are often ruined by divorces because children are simply separated from one of the parents and cannot communicate normally as they could do if their parents were still married. Naturally, such a situation causes a number of personal problems of children as well as parents. These problems are basically of psychological character but still they deteriorate the life of people.
At the same time, it should be pointed out that divorce rate may vary depending on the region, level of income, race, religious beliefs, or lack of them, etc. For instance, it is noteworthy that the Bible Belt states have some of the highest divorce rate in the US (Belli and Krantzler 2000). Also, families which income is lower than $25,000 are more likely to divorce within ten years of marriage, regardless region, religious beliefs, etc. compared to couples with higher income (Emery 1998). As for the difference in the divorce rate by race, it should be pointed out that for white population the rate is 9,8%, 11,3% for African-Americans, and 7,6% for Hispanics (Thompson 2002).
On analysing, the statistical data, it is possible to make certain conclusions as for the main causes of divorces. In this respect, it is necessary to take into consideration such a factor as the period of time people are married because the longer a couple is married the less likelihood that it will end in divorce. Nonetheless, there are still some factors that influence the divorce rate. To put it more precisely, there are several factors. One of them is the level of income, which is very important factor that influences the divorce rate. For instance, an annual household income over $50,000 cannot certainly prevent a couple from divorce but it may reduce its probability by 30% (Wallerstein 2001).
Furthermore, children are also a very important factor that both parents traditionally take into consideration when they take a decision concerning divorce. For instance, if a couple has a baby seven months or more after marriage it will decrease its chances to divorce by 24% (Levinger 1999). Also a very important role in the increase of divorce rate plays socio-economic instability. It is also necessary to take into consideration the level of income of spouses, since the higher income of a wife decrease the probability of divorce, as well as it is necessary to remember about cultural and educational level of spouses, their job, way of life, and many other factors.
As a result, it is possible to suggest certain solutions of the problem of high divorce rate. It is obvious that one of the most crucial factors contributing to the high divorce rate is socio-economic situation which obviously has to be improved, especially for those categories which are at the highest risk of divorce. In such a situation the higher divorce rate in African-American families than in white families is also basically caused by socio-economic differences between these racial groups. Naturally, it is impossible to force couple to remain married with socio-economic tools only. This is why it is very important to pay a particular attention to cultural and moral education of people with the help of some cultural or educational program. Anyway, people should come psychologically prepared to the decision to marry. Probably, it worth to organize some psychological courses for couples that are going to marry. In fact, it is even possible to borrow the experience of the preparation of parents to bearing children to the decision to marry or divorce.
Thus, in conclusion, it is possible to say that, despite the complexity of the problem, the growth of the divorce rate in America should be stopped and possibly decreased. Naturally, it is difficult to do but the solutions of the problem may be and have to be found.
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/152965/a_closer_look_at_the_reasons_for_the.html?cat=72According to several divorce websites, the current divorce rate for first-time marriages in the United States of America is 50%. The rates for second and third marriages
are even higher. The U.S. tops a long list of nations in our rate of divorce. Why is this? Why are not Americans more committed to their marriages? I believe there are several reasons for the current trend:
1. Abuse and affairs. These are the most obvious and justifiable reasons for divorce. Certainly, no woman or man should stay with someone who is physically or emotionally abusing them. Also, it is understandable that someone would not choose to be with a spouse who has had or is having an affair.
2. Lack of commitment. I believe this is the major American reason for getting divorced. U.S. couples stand before the minister, rabbi, or justice of the peace and often repeat the words "till death do us part", but rarely do they really consider the implications of this promise. Couples of past generations seem to have understood commitment so much better. I am always amazed when I read the stories of World War II brides who married after knowing their fianc� for only a few days, weeks, or months-then went on to spend fifty or more years together. It couldn't have all been a "bed of roses"-learning to live with someone they hardly knew, yet they made it work. These couples understood commitment.
3. A misunderstanding of "love". Unfortunately, Americans base their views on what love is primarily from what they see in the movies or on television, or read in a novel. Love according to these sources is
that special, heart-throbbing feeling that you get from just seeing someone or hearing their voice. Almost every couple will experience these feelings, especially when they are first dating. For many U.S. couples, when the "feelings" fade away and the reality of actually living with and being committed to someone with all their faults and failures sinks in, that's when the marriage dies. The individuals move on to the next "exciting" person who comes along, until they "feel" like they are "in love" again-after all, isn't that how our society portrays love? Love is so much more than feelings; it grows into something that is steadfast, deep, and abiding rather than shallow.
4. An inability to work through difficulties. When the going gets tough, Americans tend to quit. Finances get tight sometimes. Unplanned children are born. Planned children put unexpected stress on a marriage. It is easier to just walk away than to work through the problems.
In no way is this a conclusive list of the reasons for the extremely high divorce rate our country faces. Our challenge is to identify the causes and work to strengthen couples and families.
"WHAT'S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT?" Chasing mirages sure does!
A person who made the following comment at one of the links homed in on the truth IMO.
Because we live in a disposable society - we also are a generation of 'instant gratification' - so when times get rough people don't have the same level of committment as generations past had. It's not that our grandparents generation didn't face a lot of the same issues as couples do nowadays - and many will tell you when asked - there were many rough patches within the lifetime of their marriage - but they stuck it out and rode them out together and came out of them with an even stronger bond and greater appreciation for the other person.
