What do you believe are some factors contributing to such a high divorce rate in American society?

Question

What do you believe are some factors contributing to such a high divorce rate in American society?
How come there were not as many divorces as there are today in the 50's ?
What is a good way to prevent divorce from happening in the first place?

Answer 1

Some will say because people get married too young. That is false. People got married young in the 50's. Loretta Lyn was 13 yrs old! Myra Lewis was 14! (Jerry Lee Lewis's wife). It's values and selfishness; people today are all about what can you do for me rather than what can I do for you. The divorce rate has risen as a direct result of more people becoming atheist / agnostic also. When I asked a similar question, an atheist pointed me to an atheist website that said that atheists/agnostics have the lowest rate of divorces. This is in direct conflict with the Federal Bureau of Vital Statistics. Which is more believable, a biased atheist web site or a Government agency--you make the call. Parents do not teach their children values that they had in the 50's. Discipline and respect for your fellow man starts in the home. Many modern parents do not teach this however. They teach dog eat dog instead--again the lack of religious teaching in the home.
I grew up in a Mixed neighborhood in New Orleans. When I got to high school age, gunshots and violence were the norm. Most children were raised by a single parent if not by their grandparents. Daddy was either killed by a rival drug dealer or in prison for killing a rival drug dealer (or being caught by the police with drugs). Mommy was either raising the kids as best as she could or she was addicted to crack cocaine and grandma and grandpa raised the children. See the problem--it's only gotten worse in all american cities.
When I went to college at La. Tech in Ruston, La. It was like going to another world (like going back in time to the 50's). My first girlfriend in college was from a little town named Dubach, La. They left their keys in their cars at night and left their front doors to their homes open at night!!! They all attended church on Sunday with most of the town. They said hello to one another walking down the street. Divorce was practically unheard of in that town. I quote: "Values, It's all about values"

Answer 2

Well, first of all, the idea that marriages were more successful in the 1950s is a big, fat myth. Divorce rates were high then, too, and if they were not as high as they are now, it was only because women were controlled by their husbands sometimes and did not have a way out. Meanwhile, the fact is that divorce rates have been pretty steady the past 20 years. Our divorce rate is no more high than most societies' rates, even those in the past.

The reasons divorces do happen varies so greatly that it is impossible to try to pin it down or connect it to society as a whole. Everyone is different, and so are their circumstances. Some people get divorced due to infidelity. Some people get married when they are too immature or are not ready. Some people get married for the wrong reasons. Some people are in love, but have conflicting values or monetary habits. Some people just don't take it seriously enough and don't put in enough effort. Some people marry the wrong people. Some people just grow apart. People change. That's a fact, and always has been, and sometimes the changes do not happen in a way that makes two people remain compatible.

Want to avoid it? Make sure you marry the right person... a person who is committed, mature, and has similar values and interests as you do. Be realistic about it. Communicate. Keep things fresh. And get help when you need it, either from friends and family, or professional help when necessary. Most importantly... work at it! Successful marriages take work and effort.

That said, if the marriage is not right, then it is not right. Going back to the 1950s would be the worst thing we could do. A bad marriage is much worse than a divorce.

Answer 3

there are a lot of factors, people are more into instant gratification now, when times are rough some want to bail
But the biggest one is that it is now socially acceptable to divorce & there used to be a huge stigma especially because you needed grounds and someone had to shoulder the blame. All that changed so it is now easier to just say well, we decided it wasn't working.
Another reason: nowadays people expect that marriage should make you happy, but that wasn't always true, People used to get married for different reasons, have a family, socially mobile etc. I am not saying they were right, just that it was very true for many.
How tohave happy marriage these days? Marry the right person & then expect them to change and grow with you. Don't put your spouse in a cage of expectations.

Answer 4

there are many reasons that causes a divorce. communicate with each other the most important to the slightest issues just to keep each other informed. both must have same common goals home to own, family, jobs, compatibility to where you both get along as friends, lovers, parents. Money is not the most important issue in life but it is nice to have it for vacations, quick trips, social events. Today we have people that like to disrupt families, affairs at work very common. trust and devotion to each other is true. Understand and being their for your partner when their are in the low phase in life. love & sex is important but that why you got married. In the 50's the way of life, items cost less to where dad provided for entire family. now it takes 2 incomes to make ends meet. then love was for ever until death, today love is until when the next best person will come into my life.

Answer 5

Marriage has become something to do to set things right after having sex out of wedlock & thinking that love will grow. We get married thinking that what ever fault we see in the other person we can change after. Anyway if things don't work out we can always get divorced. Marriage is a commitment between a man & a woman, we make promises that are to be kept untill death do us part

Answer 6

Good question! I too think the divorce rate is assinine! Heres my opinions:
1.People marry out of initial lust/infatuation (talking couples who engage at 6 months, married at 1yr.) Trust me people, LUST AND INFATUATION wear off with time.
2. They marry because think it will be 'fun' to play 'house.' IE really young stupid people.
3.They marry for money. Dumb idea.
4.They marry someone whom they have always had doubts about. *If he was controlling while dating-likely he'll be when married to you. *If your partner has a drinking problem-likely they will when married to you. *Money/Finance problems?-they'll be there when you marry them. If you aware of this BEFORE you get married, in my humble little opinion you have very little reason to complain. Either work on it before hand and rectify the situation OR DON'T GET MARRIED.
5.Marriage is a trend, and divorce is even trendier. Reason being "Oh, but celebs do it all the time! Well i'll marry this guy/gal see how it goes, if it doesn't work out i'll be prepared for NEXT TIME." -- ARE you KIDDING ME!?!
6.I think too many young & shallow people are getting married just so they can have the 'big wedding.' --Its not all about keeping up with the Jones' ...

There, thats my 2 cents. :o)

Answer 7

Read all of the questions on here, and you should get a pretty good idea of why the divorce rate is so high! Infidelity is practically the national pasttime!

I also think one of the reasons divorce rates are so high is that weddings are getting increasingly more and more elaborate. People get so caught up in the planning, and then when they have doubts, they're afraid to back out of weddings that are costing themselves or their parents upwards of $30,000.

Answer 8

Because back then it was frowned upon as today its the norm. I think it has to do with infidelity, not being in love, just marrying for the children or just plain immaturity, who knows.
With divorce people figure hey if it dosen't work out i'll just divorce them they don't understand marriage is a commitment FOREVER!

Answer 9

In the 50's the women accepted what their men did to them good or bad. Now women have options and alot of men have yet to adjust to it.

and honestly, there are 100 other reasons, but number 1 is that people get divorced because they can. When they are forced to stay in a bad relationship, they will, but will do weird things, like sleep in separate beds and not do things together for years.

As kids, we never thought it as weird if daddy dominated the household, but know a days there is more equity.

Answer 10

YOu asked why there were less divorce rate in 50's? Well ask any woman from that era and she would tell you how they were raised. Woman have gotten very liberal and this is where it all started. Before woman were raised in a very conservative manner. Like until 50's in America, women were taught to respect their husband no matter what. High schools had classed where young girls were taught to behave properly with their husbands. My instructor in college told us her story of High School. She stated she was taught in High School following things in Home class-
It's disrespectful to ask your husband a question when he comes home from a tiring job; dinner should be ready and served on the table before your husband enters the house; don't nag him with your gossip stories; and do not ask him where he goes after his work. If he comes home late, he must be tired, so let him sleep. If husband hits you, it must be your fault, so apologize to him and assure him that you would make things easier for him. Make sure house is liveable, so your husband can feel at home. If he cheats on you, you must not be doing everything right, wait and be patient and with your dedication and love, you would win his love.
Now to answer your question- ever since woman movement in America, woman have gotten more liberal. They are independent, so they don't have to depend on their husbands. If a husband cheats, woman now have broader options. They can drag them to court and seek for justice.
This might explain the increase numbers of divorce rate. Men now can't get away with everything.