Divorce in the USA - Literature review Example

Divorce in the U.S Divorce has been on the rise in the United s, today the rate stands at 3.6 per 1000 persons as compared to marriage rate of 6.8 per 1000 persons. Certainly, this is a disturbing social challenge that modern society in U.S face. Several factors have been blamed for this trend, more importantly modernization that has been characterized by career pursuits and urbanization appear to influence this trend. In the recent past, there has been an increase in acceptance of divorce and single parenting. Cohabiting and fear of life responsibilities and commitment appear to be motivation factors to this increasing social challenge. Loss of intimacy and renewed pursuit for careers and profession appear to have replaced the traditional definition of family. A few studies have shown there is consistent deterioration in the family structure and social fabric continues to get eroded. As a result, divorce is now acceptable in the U.S and flexible legal system has fueled this growing social challenge. Introduction Divorce is one of the leading social challenges in the modern families across the globe. In U.S, alone, the rate of divorce is a 3.6 per every 1000 marriages. With marriage rate of 6.8 per 1000 persons, it is certainly a worrying to have such high rate of divorce (Lansford, 2009). Despite being a mutual agreement by involved persons to end the partnership, the cause of divorce in modern times appears to have been compounded by some factors. Certainly, when people settle down for marriage, they often hope for a lifelong partnership and prosperous future. However, there is a couple of key controversial issues that have been identified to pose a threat to the existence of a firmly solid family fabric. A multiplicity of conditions has appeared in the past to accelerate family disintegration and subsequent breakdown. In this paper, we examine some key contributors to the high rate of divorce and family breakdown in United States. Based on the National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG) survey 2006-2010, divorce and cohabitation are on the rise as compared to the last century (Amato & James, 2010). In the wake of the new dispensation of liberalism and American empowerment, a lot of social, economic and political milestone have been achieved. However, the continued declining in the basic institution, the family continue to baffle. A number of suggestions have been advanced to explain this trend. However, the hallmark of the issues surrounding divorce are multifaceted and can be better understood through the sociological approach. In reality, some life conditions interlaced with modernization are primary reasons for increased cases of divorce in the United Stated. Literature Review One of the fundamental condition that modern families are faced with is the modernization and changes in belief (Buttel, 2000). Certainly, the term modernization is broad; it encompasses all developments that have since contributed to the fragility of the family structure. Notably, the pursuit of careers and higher education has been implicated in declining commitment to marriage and family. While traditional societies view family as cornerstone institution, careers and education seems to have taken control. The rising cases of divorce have been systematic; the increase in awareness, expansion of personal freedoms within marriage framework has created anarchy. As a result, many marriages are founded on the shaky ground of convenience, but not emotional attachment that is a crucial recipe for successful marriages. Secondly, the pursuit of personal satisfaction coupled with harsh economic reality has created slavery to work. Today, the family ties are significantly impaired because parents are increasingly becoming a concern for their job at the expense of household. While the pursuit of economic progress for any family or great individual thing to do, the family life is equally vital. Husbands staying at work until very late and wives traveling the world for months in pursuit of job and studies are arguably some of the most recent development in the modern families. It is now becoming a common phenomenon to have couples separated for weeks, months and sometimes years as each strive to achieve personal goals (Amato, Kane, & James, 2011). Of course, when people embark on the professional development and personal growth, it is noble to any sane human being. However, the implication to the family fabric is quite unforgiving. A condition is created where each of the couples becomes selfish and independent. Lack of collective identity, shared goals and norms is arguably on the rise. Establishing marriages without examining personal expectation can be very frustrating, and this is a possible cause of increased frustration in modern marriages. In essence, marriage is an arrangement that requires shared mind, sacrifice and more importantly, tied future. It is, therefore, disastrous when each of the couples chat his or her path. Couple determination towards achieving more in life is the right thing to do. The urge to go for higher education, get more respect and titles everyones dream. However, while pursuing ones ambitions, it is vital to be achieved alongside a stable family bond. Family is where everyone belong; it is worrying when young marriages are disintegrating at such fatal rates. Wagner & Weiß, (2006) identifies the fundamental goal of marriage as an obligation of achieving a primary social need. When a nation continue to have an increasing trend of divorce as seen in the U.S, the key solution would be likely to be dynamics within the couple. There is no doubt that many of these divorces, particularly in the U.S, has been seen among people of high social classes. Husband and wives seem to be faced with the harsh reality of the economy. Quite a good number of marriages are ending because of economic reasons and an increasing rate of acceptance of divorce. According to the growing number of independent economic partners coupled urbanization, and economic dynamics has led to increased number of divorce (Wolfers, 2006). In other words, with empowered partners, the existence of means of livelihood, marriages are on the verge of collapse. Traditionally, marriage provided an avenue of two adults to establish themselves; it was seen as a means to have shared problems and solutions. The thought of living alone at adulthood was unpleasant and the need for special attachment to navigate the harsh economic times was felt across ages. However, with advanced urbanization, established education systems, modern governance and liberal court system, many marriages are ending. Notably, some conditions have made it possible for divorce in the U.S to be more prevalent. Just like many parts of the world, people have resort to having their lives revolve around careers. The primary function of a family structure has since eroded the critical role of establishing a long-term relationship with shared future seems to have been perfectly replaced by an enormous appetite for recognition and titles. The thought of the future of marriage in the U.S is breath taking for those who believe in the family as a social structure. In addition, the recent family has saw establishment of female-headed families that traditionally would result from the demise of a partner. With increased flexibility in the definition and its structure, parents seem to be wallowing at a deeper end of an ocean trying to catch a breath. The standard definition of the family continues to draw controversy so as its composition. Decline in the willingness to establish commitment has resulted in increasing number of single parents. Arguably, urbanization has provided an ample environment for single-parent families because of the privacy in urban settings. It is becoming more convenient to have one or two children, and the parents raise either singly or separately. The law on divorce I flexible, it presumes any of the couple can request to quit the marriage with the consent of the partner. Indeed, this has continued to open opportunities for those who hate responsibility and commitment. Technically the law has also created an opportunity to have temporary marriage arrangements that the couple can walk out at will. Making divorce legitimately accessible has probably complicated the fragile modern family structure. The liberal rule and existing freedom of choice continue to play favorably in creating a disintegrated family system. Today, in United States, there is a growing acceptance of divorce. Couples are no longer tolerant of each other. Insignificant family disputes continue to end in bitter divorce. According to modernization theory as described by Härkönen & Dronkers, (2006) an urban family would suffer from normlessness and prone to disintegration as compared to rural families. Although it may not be conclusive, urbanization has created a society shift. In essence, it has come with a more liberal approach towards social structures and family as an institution has suffered a great deal of blow. In reality, the majority of urban dwellers in the U.S are middle and high social class people with quite substantial education. The conditions they live in include multi-cultural settings. The family moral fabric seem to diminish greatly under urban environment. Being the economically empowered group, they appear to pay more attention to career and little time for family. The rate of divorce among urban dwellers is significantly high. Unlike in the past where the older members of family and men would have a final decision. The trend has since changed; many women are now breadwinners in their families and are now becoming key decision-makers. While this would probably not be the cause of divorce, it serves as an excellent manifestation of family structural changes over years. As the primary role continue to be reversed, the increased knowledge of independence and self-gratification seem to have thwarted family framework. Moreover, there is an increasing number of people living together without formal marriages. Many of the people who avoid marriage, in essence, avoids accompanying commitment. In reality, the same individuals would divorce if they were to marry. It is, therefore, arguably that the conditions that compel people to marriages are multi-faceted. However, the cornerstone of this social challenge appear to emerge from modernization. Also, financial disagreement among couple has been blamed for a higher number of divorce in the U.S. In the recent past, couples have been involved in court suits over sharing of financial obligations or dispute over property. In other instances, unequal economic status has been implicated to cause divorce. It can, therefore, be seen that lack of or high financial ability can have deleterious effects on the family stability. Although research has shown, economic inequality contribute little to the divorce, its impact cannot be underestimated. However, fighting for the jointly owned property has been witnessed more during the settlement of a divorce. Today, families in the United States continue to suffer from untold experiences of divorce and family breakdown. The modernization theorists appear to blame urbanization, careers and expansion of freedom within legal system (Buttel, 2000). Many children remain a victim of their parents decision to end their marriage. Conclusion Divorce is one of the most perplexing and frustrating experience. The social causes and conditions that ultimately yield to one can be traumatizing. An explicit study of historical patterns and the developments in the wake of modernization explains the rising cases. Also, the issue appears to have multiple causes those together points towards changing societal trends. The change within family structure compounded with increasing external forces seems to be favorable for divorce. Urbanization, the pursuit of career and professional discourse at the expense of the family welfare are primary principles for this trend. The changing of roles and increasing denial of responsibility appear to be influencing the choice of cohabiting and divorce. With rising rates of divorce, it continues to pose a substantial challenge to the future existence of family structures. Reference Amato, P. R., & James, S. (2010). Divorce in Europe and the United States: Commonalities and differences across nations. Family Science. http://doi.org/10.1080/19424620903381583 Amato, P. R., Kane, J. B., & James, S. (2011). Reconsidering the “good divorce.” Family Relations, 60(5), 511–524. http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-3729.2011.00666.x Buttel, F. H. (2000). Ecological modernization as social theory. Geoforum. http://doi.org/10.1016/S0016-7185(99)00044-5 Härkönen, J., & Dronkers, J. (2006). Stability and change in the educational gradient of divorce. A comparison of seventeen countries. European Sociological Review, 22(5), 501–517. http://doi.org/10.1093/esr/jcl011 Lansford, J. E. (2009). Parental Divorce and Children’s Adjustment. Perspectives on Psychological Science. http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-6924.2009.01114.x Wagner, M., & Weiß, B. (2006). On the variation of divorce risks in Europe: Findings from a meta-analysis of European longitudinal studies. European Sociological Review, 22(5), 483–500. http://doi.org/10.1093/esr/jcl014 Wolfers, J. (2006). Did unilateral divorce laws raise divorce rates? A reconciliation and new results. American Economic Review. http://doi.org/10.1257/aer.96.5.1802 Read More