It’s well known that divorce is very common in the United States. It’s unclear if exactly 50% of marriages are going to end in divorce or not, despite this being an oft-cited statistic, but it is true that most people have either been divorced or they know someone who has.
But have you ever wondered who initiates these divorces more often? In a heterosexual marriage, is it more likely that the husband is going to file for divorce or that his wife is going to be the one to file the papers?
Women file more often
What statistics have found is that it is more likely for women to file for divorce than for men. Certainly, there are a lot of different factors that play into that.
For instance, the rise of workers’ rights for women over the last century may have contributed to this. Women in older generations felt like they had no financial options on their own. Modern women fully know that they can get jobs and support themselves, so they may be more willing to leave a marriage than they were in the past.
It could also be that women simply have higher standards for marriage. In some cases, husbands are content, even if their wives are unhappy. They may be more willing to deal with the unhappiness to stay married, whereas women may be more likely to move on.
Are you getting a divorce?
Regardless of who files for divorce, if you’re going through this process this year, make sure you take the time to look into all of your legal options. Using mediation may be one way to help things go smoothly, allowing you and your ex to compromise and make your own decisions.