Marriages come to an end for a variety of different reasons. Infidelity and abuse can lead a spouse to seek a divorce seemingly overnight. Yet for others, a permanent rift can take time to develop. Disagreements over parenting, lifestyle, and finances may at first seem trivial but later prove impossible to overcome. Towson divorce lawyers report on recent research by a Harvard sociologist that considers the employment status of a husband as it relates to divorce.
Women increasingly work outside the home, and more than ever those same women are serving as the household’s primary source of income. Although author Alexandra Killewald found no direct correlation between women who work full-time and an increased risk of divorce, the same cannot be said for men who are unemployed or who only work part-time. The study – titled Money, Work and Marital Stability: Assessing Change in the Gendered Determinants of Divorce – posits that men who fail to find full-time work are more likely than others to see their marriages fail.
Gender Roles Do Not Develop at an Even Pace
The distinction is noteworthy in several respects. Killewald’s research suggests that marriages can survive economic independence for women, and the diminished domestic role which naturally ensues, but when men are unable to achieve economic independence it can serve as a source of marital strife. The study surmises that changes in gender structure for men and women have not developed at an even pace over the last several decades.
No couple exchanges vows with the expectation that their marriage will someday end in divorce. At the same time, no couple can be completely certain of how they will respond to the twists and turns of married life. Layoffs and extended periods of unemployment can wreak havoc on an otherwise happy marriage because spouses are forced to reevaluate gender roles and their financial expectations. As Killewald’s study makes clear, some couples are better positioned to adapt to unforeseen events than others.
Towson Divorce Lawyers at Huesman, Jones and Miles, LLC Advocate for Separating Couples
If you or a loved one is contemplating a divorce for any reason, the Towson divorce lawyers at Huesman, Jones and Miles can help. We proudly serve clients throughout Baltimore County, Harford County, Carroll County, and Howard County, as well as residents of Towson, Bel Air, Columbia, Elliott City, Westminster, and Essex at our offices conveniently located in Hunt Valley, Towson, and Pikesville, Maryland. Call 443-589-0150 or contact us online for a no-cost consultation.