Is Devorce Becoming the Social Norm?

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In discussing the implications of divorce, it is important to consider the underlying societal and cultural reasons that impact rates of divorce. While specific individual instances and cases of divorce can shed light on larger patterns, it is also worthwhile to look at the broader forces within society that are motivating individual actions and decisions (The PAIR Project, 1998). Over the past several centuries, attitudes about divorce have changed dramatically. Within Western cultures in particular, divorce was once considered to be highly taboo. If a couple divorced, social stigma and isolation was somewhat inevitable, particularly for the female partner. In recent times, however, attitudes towards divorce have become far more permissive, with divorce becoming normalized. There are a number of factors that have contributed to the normalization of divorce over the past century, but the primary reason for the normalization of divorce is the emphasis that has arisen on autonomy and personal development.

In discussing the current modern influences on divorce rates, it is worthwhile to consider what these influences were in the past. Before the eighteenth century, families functioned as instruments of education and socialization in the absence of formal schools or social frameworks (Hawkins & Fackrell, 2009). The family also formed the building block of most economic systems around the world. Therefore, any threat to the stability of the family was also a threat to the broader community that surrounded the family. Happiness and romance within a marriage were not expected. Instead, the function of a marriage was to provide stability and a safe place to raise children. Basic courtesy and respect was a social expectation for spouses, but adultery was commonplace, along with emotional detachment and a degree of violence (Phillips, 1991). Rather than being perceived as a source of personal happiness and fulfillment, marriage was seen as a duty that was to be borne for the greater good of society.

Prior to the eighteenth century, the only legal basis for a divorce was based on religious principles regarding adultery (The PAIR Project, 1998). Divorce on the basis of adultery was allowed because adultery was seen to interfere with the sexual sanctity of marriage. At one time in history, adultery was punishable by death, but divorce was seen as a viable alternative to such a harsh treatment.

The expectations and views of marriage imposed by society began to change in the later part of the eighteenth century and into the nineteenth century. Instead of a sacred religious union, designed for the purpose of procreation, marriage began to be viewed as a civil contract. With this shift in perspective, obstacles to divorce began to diminish. In the New World, such as the American colonies, the idea of contracts based on moral principles and the idea of human rights was a popular notion. Therefore, individuals who requested a divorce often did so on the grounds of terms like “tyranny, misrule, and injustice” (The PAIR Project, 1998). The emphasis on civil contract and human rights also changed expectations of what was acceptable behavior in a marriage; chronic alcohol abuse, cruelty, and mental illness were no longer widely accepted as they had been prior to this time (Riley, 1991). During the American Civil War, the stresses of being separated for long periods of time gave rise to an unprecedented increase in the divorce rate of the United States.