As we have reported before, the divorce rate among those over 50 is moving up as divorces overall are holding steady. Those numbers seem to disprove the conventional wisdom people in Milwaukee have that divorce is only for young people who rushed into ill-advised unions. That people over 50 are splitting up in eye-catching numbers, then, may not be new, but it is such an interesting trend that researchers keep studying it in hopes of better understanding the social forces that are driving this trend.
One researcher recently said she believes the increase in Baby Boomer divorces is due to the increase in professional opportunities for women over the past few decades. When many Baby Boomers were first married, women did not have as many professional opportunities. These days, of course, that has changed. This has led many women to realize they desire a career and could support themselves without a spouse’s income. This is not to say it is impossible to have a career and a marriage, but in at least some cases, it has led women to think they want something other than a marriage and a life at home.
Also, our society’s changing views on marriage and divorce can probably account for a lot of this trend. Simply put, we no longer look down on people who get divorced. It is not a mark of failure; it simply means two people decided the best thing for them would be to separate. In some cases, the ex-spouses even remain friends. People across society seem to recognize and accept this.
Milwaukee residents who are thinking about divorce, then, should not worry about how it may seem to other people. The rising divorce rate among Baby Boomers shows that divorce is a viable, socially acceptable option for anyone. We all hope marriages work out, of course, but in many cases they do not. If the latter is the case with your marriage, you may want to speak to a family law attorney about your options.
Source: The Akron Beacon Journal, “Divorce rate rising for baby boomers,” Kim Hone -McMahan, Oct. 18, 2011
