Many reasons have been attributed to this steady growth. Legislative Acts: The last 150 years have witnessed a steady rise in the number of divorces in the UK. According to the yearly figures released by the Office for National Statistics, divorce rates have been steadily increasing from 1996. The 19th century saw a relaxation of the Victorian marital traditions and norms. The Matrimonial Causes Act of 1857 and 1932 expanded the scope of grounds of divorce to include bigamy, physical incapacity, desertion and incompatibility. The First World War along with the Herbert Act of 1937 propelled the rise of divorce rates in the UK. It gave the wife the freedom to petition for divorce alone. In addition, divorce reasons became broader -- habitual drunkenness, prolonged incurable insanity and imprisonment. In 1938, the eligibility for divorce aid changed making divorces beneficial and reducing the prospect of financial doom for the petitioners and respondents. The Divorce Reform Act of 1969 allowed for a two-year separation period before a divorce. The act also legalised separation after five years of desertion. The grounds for divorce were further expanded to include adultery, an irretrievable breakdown in marriage and unreasonable behaviour. The Matrimonial and Family proceedings Act in 1984 made divorce easier by stating that couples could petition and divorce only after a period of 12 months. Thus, the UK legislation made divorce a relaxed and everyday affair. Changing Social Landscape: According to social organisations of Reality of Social Causes and UK Divorce Lawyers, the changing UK social scene has also contributed to the growth of divorce rate. This changing social setting includes:
Changing perception and attitudes about institution of marriage
Changing lifestyle and attitude
Changing social perception about divorce All these factors add up to marked increasing divorce rates in the UK. Divorce in the 1970s was a social stigma – something to be avoided at all costs. It was not uncommon to stay in a bad marriage and suffer in silence. Women were subversive and docile creatures dominated by men. They did not have freedom of expression or movement. In fact, their existence depended on the whims and fancies of the male in the house. However, perceptions and attitudes have changed since the 1980s. Liberalisation and civic movements have caused women to wake up and voice their opinion. Now, divorce is no longer considered a social stigma. If the woman is not happy in her marriage, it is best to walk out. Thus, the rising power of the woman is intricately linked to the concept of globalisation leading to lifestyle and attitude changes. Social psychologists state that today couples have become individualistic and selfish in nature. The personality constituent of ‘Id’ has come to the fore. This has resulted in a shift in approach towards marital commitments. People are no longer willing to sacrifice personal goals and desires for the achievement and fulfilment of familial ones. In short, the concept of ‘I, ME’ has become important displacing the familial concept of ‘WE’. People feel that if the marriage is not satisfying their emotional, financial, cognitive and sexual desires, it is always apt to leave the marriage. Professional couples do not have the time or the energy to invest in making a marriage work. They would rather simply walk out and divorce rather than sit and discuss to make the marriage work. Thus, priorities have changed towards the institution of marriage. Couples ranging in the age group 25-32 are rigid and opinionated to adjust and make needed compromises in a marriage. The incidence of divorce rates is directly correlated with lifestyle changes of manner of living, social responsibilities and commitments. High and individualistic standard of living coupled with selfish pursuit of goals and ambitions has succeeded in putting harmonious unselfish family life in jeopardy. Couples, no longer, have time for each other or children. They are always hard-pressed for time – aiming to achieve more in less time. The needs and demands of modern society and work have sidelined the concept of unitary family way of life where couples including children felt it was important to spend time with each other daily. This is not the case anymore. The lack of communication can be seen as a root cause behind the irretrievable breakdown of marriages. The prospect of divorce is becoming financially and socially feasible and attractive. Divorce rates are being perceived as being complementary to the steadily rising standard of living in the UK. As demands and pressures increase, couples are more likely to become more self-centered and individualistic. This causes a breakup of the familial social way of living as joint finances and expenditures become a burden. Couples are becoming more materialistic -- refusing to sacrifice and compromise for the sake of family life and responsibility.
James Walsh is a freelance writer and copy editor. For more information on getting a <a href="http://www.quickie-divorce.com">Divorce</a> see http://www.quickie-divorce.com
