Divorce has somewhat become widespread nowadays. In an infographics created by Instant Checkmate (2013), it is approximated that 50% of all marriages in America end in divorce. The succeeding reports are staggering. Marriage, in a religious context, is considered to be a sacred promise shared by two persons bound by love. However, some relationships are doomed to fail for a myriad of reasons. And if the grounds for divorce are present, then broken couples opt to take the more painful (yet sometimes liberating) legal route.
Divorce is defined the legal dissolution of marriage by a court or other competent body. According to the Legal Information Institute at Cornell University Law School, the courts in the United States of America recognize only two types of divorce: divorce a vincula matrimonii (also known as “absolute divorce”) and divorce a menso et thoro (also known as “limited divorce). The former is referred to as a judicial termination of a legal marriage; that is, both of the parties involved will have their statuses changed back to “single.” Limited divorce, on the other hand, means that the court will only terminate the right to cohabitate, but the statuses will remain unchanged.
A national survey conducted in 2005 concludes that the significant reasons for divorce include lack of commitment, irreconcilable differences, infidelity, abuse and unpreparedness for marriage (i.e. marrying at a young age). Although there are ways to fix marriages such as relationship and religious counseling, still a lot of Americans believe that divorce is a morally acceptable choice (Saad, 2008). Divorce respects the moral boundaries of a person and around marriage. Circumstances that violate such terms can be unhealthy not only to a relationship, but to a person’s totality. A wife who is constantly being beaten by his alcoholic husband may suffer from physical and mental health issues in the long run. A couple who never misses an argument can be prone to relationship downturns like adultery or concubinage. Indeed, every individual has the right to be physically and emotionally safe in a relationship. If the other party is not cooperating well and if the resources have been exhausted, then it is fairly acceptable for a married individual to consider and proceed with the divorce.
The process is expected to be messy especially when psychological and financial factors are involved. Both parties will also have to consider their children (if any). Divorce can have a devastating effect to the child (Amato & Keith, 1991). Albeit the complexities of the process, I think divorce can help save an individual’s well-being for as long as the consequences can be resolved in a proper manner.
References
Amato, P. R., & Keith, B. (1991). Parental divorce and the well-being of children: A meta-analysis. Psychological Bulletin, 110(1), 26-46.
Cornell University Law School (2014). Divorce. Retrieved on June 8, 2014 from http://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/divorce.
Instant Checkmate (2013). Divorce In America [infographic]. Retrieved from http://blog.instantcheckmate.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Divorce-in-America.jpg.
Saad, L. (2008, May 19). Cultural tolerance for divorce grows to 70%. Gallup Poll. Retrieved June 8, 2014 from www.gallup.com/poll/107380/Cultural-Tolerance-Divorce-Grows-70.aspx.
With this ring . . . A national survey on marriage in America. (2005). Gaithersburg, MD: The National Fatherhood Initiative.
