Divorce Trends among American Women in Labor Force - Literature review Example

Divorce Trends among American Women in Labor Force Over the past four decades, the world and more specifically the UnitedStates, has experienced a rising trend in divorce rates. Perhaps this is attributed to the modernization and the increase of women in the labor force, as some quarters may put it (Caplow, Hicks, and Wattenberg 112). While divorce in its won is majorly a domestic affair, it is important to note that the adverse effects of divorce have found their way into the workplace hence affecting the productivity of many people (Buddle 77). In this case, women are the main victims of divorce especially when they have a job to take care of and this brings many challenges to their professional and personal lives (Farley 34). While it is difficult to pinpoint the reasons for the rising trends in divorce cases in the US, a close relationship exists between involvement of the married American women in the labor force and the rampant divorce cases that the US has experienced particularly over the past two decades. In the recent past, more women have entered the labor force particularly in the United States and this has adversely affected their relationships with their husbands, sometimes leading to divorce (Caputo 58). Although divorce ought to be a peaceful resolution to family conflicts, more women have continued to suffer the wrath of the same especially those that contribute significantly to the labor force (Farley 34). Essentially, women have borne the brand of divorce for a long time even if they are the ones who are not responsible for the same and this presumption has affected them negatively (Andreß and Hummelsheim 87). This is particularly so in the sense that women who are in the labor force have been presumed to be domineering over their husbands and perhaps this is the key reason why most of the divorce cases in the United States involved women particularly those with high profile jobs. In this regard, the United States has recorded the highest number of divorce cases particularly over the past one decade (Caputo 58). Perhaps one discouraging fact is that the trend is on the increase and has been on a rapid increase since the beginning of the 21st century when more women plunged into the labor force while others ventured into many private practice areas (Caputo 58). While economic development and the empowerment of women is a good idea, it is worthy to note that the same has led to several cases of divorce cases because of disagreements (Buddle 77). Normally, American women who get into the labor force do not stay long in marriages irrespective of the economic status of their husbands. Perhaps it has developed into a trend such that if the modern American woman gets economic empowerment from landing a good job in the labor market, then they cease to be the previous submissive wives that they used to be (Caplow, Hicks, and Wattenberg 112). Although several people elicit mixed reactions and divergent opinions concerning the trends of divorce among women in the labor force, one sure fact is that women in the labor force are more likely to engage into domestic feuds with their husbands (Caplow, Hicks, and Wattenberg 112). Certainly, America has the highest number of divorce cases at any given time and this has been proved to be related to the occupations of the ‘divorcees’. In essence, the last forty years has seen many Americans divorce particularly due to the economic empowerment of many people within the region (Caputo 58). This has been attributed to the high level of women empowerment in the United States particularly in the recent past whereby more women have joined the labor force and it is evident that the female income in the United States has been rising (Farley 34). While it is not clear whether there is a direct relationship between a high income in the American women and the stability of their marriages, it is important to note that the conflict of roles among working couples is a major issue (Caplow, Hicks, and Wattenberg 112). In the contemporary world, more women in the labor force have increased their participation and productivity particularly due to the rise in income levels (Buddle 77). This means that the empowerment of women has the direct effect of increasing their level of participation in the labor force. Consequently, a reduction has occurred specifically in the rate of birth among married American women who are actively participating in the labor force (Caputo 58). Definitely, the need to make more money and increase their income have rendered them childless for many years as many American women prefer to give their jobs priority over their husbands and marriages and this normally leads to domestic feuds (Farley 34). If the domestic feuds become persistent, most couples normally have no option but to dissolve their marriages. However, many American women view their participation in the labor force as a cushion to the rampant negative implications of divorce cases (Caputo 58). This according to them is a security in case they become victims of divorce, which has been commonplace in the United States of American and is still on the rise (Caplow, Hicks, and Wattenberg 112). Most American women believe that participation in the labor force does not bring about divorce but rather divorce is caused by many factors, some of which may not be work-related (Caputo 58). In this respect, most American women have sought employment in the past two decades in order to cushion themselves from the unbearable shocks of divorce especially the financial implication. Initially, the male folk used to bear the brand of divorce and all the financial responsibilities that come with it but times and systems have changed (Buddle 77). This is particularly so in the sense that women will be better placed after a divorced especially if they had jobs prior to the commencement of their divorce cases (Farley 34). When it comes to matters pertaining to financial security and demand for children, it is worthy to note that the increased participation in the American labor force by women has led to more divorces than ever before (Caplow, Hicks, and Wattenberg 112). This is majorly because of economic empowerment among the American women has led to low demand for children and they are willing to stay for many years without worrying about the necessity to have children (Moe 36). This affects their husbands negatively especially their psychological wellbeing, as they fear that their wives might pass the childbearing age without giving them children. This complex scenario has led to many disputes among married Americans in the past and is perhaps one of the major contributors to divorcee (Caputo 58). Additionally, married American women in the labor force normally have reduced demand for the advantages of sexual division of labor (Farley 34). This means that they view themselves like free beings that are at liberty to do what they want at their free time and hence having minimal time with their husbands. In this case, such women put more emphasis on their careers at the expense of their marriages that they used to sacrifice for initially (Moe 36). This complacence among the married women of America who are in the labor force continues to rise despite numerous efforts by many human rights watchdogs and non-governmental organizations to educate the American womenfolk on their roles as wives (Caplow, Hicks, and Wattenberg 112). Definitely, the overindulgence of the American womenfolk in the labor force has robbed them of their submissive culture that they used to possess decades back as wives (Caplow, Hicks, and Wattenberg 112). Consequently, this has led to the numerous divorce cases, as many husbands are unable to cope with the challenges of staying with women who have been empowered. Perhaps it is important to mention that the case is even worse for the American women with high profile jobs such as business executives and senior managers (Farley 34). This is especially so in the sense that they develop a sense of superiority complex in their marriages and relationships and this could be quite intimidating for their spouses. Since they hold high offices at work, they bring their professional status to their homes and this does a great deal of damage to their marriages in which case divorce is normally the next option (Buddle 77). Probably, divorce and higher wages in women are interrelated in that one of them leads to the other in one way or another (Farley 34). For instance, women with high earnings tend to take their marriages and husbands for granted and this greatly affects their relationships. Sometimes such disagreements lead to divorce because such women cannot have time for their husbands and domestic roles (Caputo 58). Consequently, divorced women who are employed tend to spend more time in refining their skills and qualifications hence attracting even higher wages than what they used to earn previously. This increase in the earnings of divorced women shuns more men who would have liked to marry them and hence they continue to be single (Caplow, Hicks, and Wattenberg 112). Nevertheless, some scholars have claimed that the rise in divorce cases may not have been necessarily due to the high economic earnings but due to a couple of other factors some of which bordering the change in the tastes of the women involved (Farley 34). This notion means that the rise in earnings of the American women who are married has changed their tastes and preferences over the years and this has extended to the individual tastes in their marriages and homes (Caplow, Hicks, and Wattenberg 112). Perhaps this is the biggest disease that ails the modern American women who are married that has contributed to the large number of divorce cases especially over the past one decade. In this respect, the economic effects of the participation in the labor force has changed the family structures of many families within the united States and it is only fair that couples learn how to deal with the challenges that come about (Farley 34). More importantly, high wage women normally experience less shadow price of divorce, as they are able to move on swiftly without overburdening their previous husbands (Moe 36). This is rightly so in the sense that the husband is likely to experience a low marginal economic loss in case of a divorce since the wife has a high income (Farley 34). This factor only accentuates the need for more women especially in the United States to participate in the labor force in order to safeguard themselves against negative economic prospects or even awkward economic situations in times of divorce. Perhaps it should be noted that this is not to promote divorce but to cushion the victims in case one happens (Caplow, Hicks, and Wattenberg 112). Although the divorce trends among the employed American women have been on the rise, many scholars are divided on the exact factors that lead to such dissolution of marriages (Moe 36). While some believe that the involvement of married American women in gainful employment has benefited them than any other thing in their marriages, others believe otherwise (Caplow, Hicks, and Wattenberg 112). Those who promote the participation of women in labor force argue that the empowerment of women will reduce the cases of divorce significantly since the financial burden of the family will be catered for by both partners in marriage and therefore chances of disagreements over matters economic will be scarce (Fredriksen-Goldsen et al. 126). Nevertheless, most people believe that the modern trends of women empowerment through economic means are responsible for the massive divorce cases in America and around the world (Farley 34). In summary, divorce and women in labor force is a critical topic that elicits mixed reactions from all quarters and therefore, deserves more attention. While increased earnings of the modern American women through involvement in the labor force has led to more divorces in their marriages, the same economic empowerment of the married American women has contributed a great deal to their financial security amid a myriad of divorce cases. Hence, a close relationship exists between involvement of the married American women in the labor force and the rampant divorce cases that the US has experienced particularly over the past two decades. Works cited Andreß, H.-J, and D Hummelsheim. When Marriage Ends: Economic and Social Consequences of Partnership Dissolution. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Pub, 2009. Print. Buddle, Melanie. The Business of Women: Marriage, Family, and Entrepreneurship in British Columbia 1901-51. Vancouver: UBC Press, 2010. Print. Caplow, Theodore, Louis Hicks, and Ben J. Wattenberg. The First Measured Century: An Illustrated Guide to Trends in America, 1900 - 2000. Washington, DC: AEI Press, 2001. Print. Caputo, Richard K. U.S. Social Welfare Reform: Policy Transitions from 1981 to the Present. New York: Springer Verlag, 2011. Print. Farley, Reynolds. The American People: Census 2000. New York: Russell Sage, 2005. Print. Fredriksen-Goldsen, Karen I, Karen I. Fredriksen-Goldsen, Andrew E. Scharlach, and Andrew E. Scharlach. Families and Work: New Directions in the Twenty-First Century. New York: Oxford University Press, 2001. Print. Moe, Karine S. Women, Family, and Work: Writings on the Economics of Gender. Oxford, U.K: Blackwell, 2003. Print. Read More