While many people in Maricopa County might think that women are more interested in marriage than men, divorce statistics show that they are also more likely to end an unhappy relationship. According to a 2015 study conducted by the American Sociological Association, women initiate up to 70% of divorces across the country, far exceeding the number of divorces initiated by men. This marks a sharp upturn from the past, but there are many reasons for these changes. In the first place, women are more likely to work outside the home, and more people tend to marry those of roughly equal financial circumstances.
This means that women are not held back from filing for divorce because of a concern for how they will be able to survive. Fewer women are stay-at-home mothers, and financial issues may be less of a concern for many women who decide to end their marriages. On the other hand, some women may actually feel as if their marriages are holding them back, especially if they are unhappy and unfulfilling. They may feel that they carry higher levels of domestic responsibility despite holding down an equally demanding full-time job and come to resent the inequality.
Other researchers said that communication can be a major problem in many marriages. They said that women were more likely to shoulder the burden not only of communication between spouses but with extended family and friends. Many women may be unwilling to accept this burden, especially if it means dealing with difficult or unpleasant in-laws.
There are many reasons why both men and women may choose to end a marriage that is not working, but there are serious legal and financial consequences involved. A family law attorney can often help a client seek a fair settlement on property division, spousal support and other matters.