During the traditional wedding ceremony, the bride and the
bridegroom promise each other lifelong devotion. Yet, about one out of four
American marriages ends in divorce. 61) Since 1940, the divorce rate has more
than doubled, and experts predict that, of all marriages that occurred in the
1970s, about 50% will end in divorce. The U. S. A. has one of the highest
divorce rates in the world, perhaps even the highest. What goes
wrong 62) The fact that divorce is so common in the United States does not
mean that Americans consider marriage a casual, unimportant relationship.
Just the opposite is true. Americans expect a great deal from marriage. They
seek physical, emotional, and intellectual compatibility. They want to be deeply
loved and understood. It is because Americans expect so much from marriage that
so many get divorced. They prefer no marriage at all to a marriage without love
and understanding. With typical American optimism, they end one marriage in hope
that the next will be happier. With no-fault divorce laws in many states, it is
easier than ever to get a divorce. 63) Some American women stay in unhappy
marriages because they don’t have the education or job experience to support
themselves and their children, but most American women believe that, if
necessary, they can make it alone without a husband. All things considered,
Americans have little reason to continue an unhappy marriage.
Which marriages are most likely to end in divorce Marriages between
people with low incomes or limited education and marriages between teenagers are
at greatest risk. The number of divorces between couples with Children under the
age of 18 is declining, and almost 45% of divorcing couples are
childless. 64) When a couple gets divorced, the court may
require the man to pay his former wife a monthly sum of money, which depends on
the husband’s income, the wife’s needs, and the length of the marriage. If
the woman is working and earns a good salary, she may receive no money at all.
Occasionally, the court decides that a woman should pay her husband money. About
10% of American women outearn their husbands. 65) If the woman has totally
supported her husband during the marriage, the court may decide that she must
continue to support him after the divorce, which is a rather new concept in the
United States.