Posted on 01/16/2007 10:04:04 AM PST by shrinkermd
For what experts say is probably the first time, more American women are living without a husband than with one, according to a New York Times analysis of census results.
In 2005, 51 percent of women said they were living without a spouse, up from 35 percent in 1950 and 49 percent in 2000.
Coupled with the fact that in 2005 married couples became a minority of all American households for the first time, the trend could ultimately shape social and workplace policies, including the ways government and employers distribute benefits.
Several factors are driving the statistical shift. At one end of the age spectrum, women are marrying later or living with unmarried partners more often and for longer periods. At the other end, women are living longer as widows and, after a divorce, are more likely than men to delay remarriage, sometimes delighting in their newfound freedom.
In addition, marriage rates among black women remain low. Only about 30 percent of black women are living with a spouse, according to the Census Bureau, compared with about 49 percent of Hispanic women, 55 percent of non-Hispanic white women and more than 60 percent of Asian women.
In a relatively small number of cases, the living arrangement is temporary, because the husbands are working out of town, are in the military or are institutionalized. But while most women eventually marry, the larger trend is unmistakable.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
I knew a guy who would buy a flat of turf which he kept on a tray on his apartment balcony. His dog used the little patch of grass to do his job. He (the guy, not the dog) would replace the flat once a month.
70 to 80 % of all divorce cases filed by women.
They probably turn anti-woman because they have been through the court system.
You should also distinguish between divorces with and without children.
Women DO get support from the man when he earns more, men do NOT get support from the woman when she earns more.
Men do NOT get permanent alimony. (at least not until the judge stops snickering)
The fact is the good marriages are not newsworthy but the nightmare divorce is always newsworthy.
Perhaps the best way to deal with the current divorce situation is to outlaw all alimony period. Divorce is a straight cash out of assets aquired during the marriage and premarital assets (regardless of increase) no not count as marital and are treated as inheritances which don't become automatically part of the marriage.
My favorit case is an obscure florida case where the court found the denial of sexual relations to be abuse and thus the wife could not use that against the husband for his obtaining a mistress.
yup, that's the key to why fewer and fewer men want to marry - fear of the financial ruin of divorce, even when not initiated by them.
unless and until that issue is dealt with (it never will be), marriage rates will continue to decline in the US.
I hope your bunker is as sound and secure as mine...
I expect a lot of vicious "incoming" from my earlier remarks....
Semper Fi
Is that a calendar?
Yes, it is a nice route! It took me awhile to accept that it was ok to be single -- and for me as well, once I did, my life is just incredible.
Thank you for sharing.
You can't do that. There are many cases of women who are traded in for younger models. Please don't deny it. What are they supposed to do? Many of these middle-aged women with no career skills. Why should they give up their standard of living?
Well, I didn't, in the end!
I also have alot of other "requirements" - and it turns out, my hubby violates some of them!
But not the big things like - respect me and my family, don't be liberal, and be Christian.
My husband likes (sort of) doing laundry.
My brother-in-law likes grocery shopping. So much he drives us all crazy. He'll "disappear" just to get some onions. He can't not go through the whole store. Which PO's my sister because he delays getting the whole BBQ dinner together and finished in time....
I believe there is a lot of truth in what you say, relative to the "state" of women in the state --- but please, don't rule out dumb and immoral..
There are too many examples of each -- regardless of the underlying causes..
Semper Fi
Saddened widows, hopeful unmarried young ladies, and women unwillingly divorced by their husbands can comprise a substantial portion of the 51%.
That's not freedom from men, but lack of a man.
Speak for yourself hun!
HOT MAMA! Thanks for the post! Now that's what I'm talkin 'bout! ;)
His point is correct. What do you dispute?
Fair until he dies or is laid off. An educated woman should never let her job skills get rusty. Especially if she was trained in a technical field. I know couples where an extended layoff (or strike in one case) forced her back into the job market. The best 2 women could come up with after 8 years off was teacher's aides.
Another maintained a tenured teaching job throughout her kids' childhoods, but was home summers and holidays. When husband was laid off (local hospital closed, took 2 years to find new job at comparable salary) she picked up hours at the Gap at night. Incidently, she was earning over $80,000 per year. Even with child care costs, she couldn't afford to quit her job.
Once the kids are in school full time, honing one's job skills or continuing education is important. $35,000+ per year in college tuition for each kid, looms up pretty fast. Financial aid is very tight, many couples can't save that kind of money on one salary while paying a mortgage and car payments.
Marriage is about children. Fewer children means fewer marriages, and even one or two is fairly easy to support by a single mother. Fact is, there is no shortage of people and marriage is not vital in the system we have created.
I r ememebr the first time, more than 10 years ago, when my oldest daughter came home during her freshman year at college..she was upset because her roomate occasionally "hooked up". I'd never heard the term before, and naively asked what it meant...(for about 10 seconds I thought it meant needlepoint or crocheting)... my jaw dropped when she explained it..but hey, I survived the 60's..
What more can I ask for?
Ya hear that, ya feminists? I'm happy!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.