It is 2019, and gender roles within families are more blurred than they have been at any other point in the country’s history. Despite this fact, when it comes to divorce, one factor increases the possibility of divorce by 33% — who makes more money. Societal expectations continue to view the man as the primary breadwinner in the family whether couples live here in Illinois or elsewhere across the country.
Some men do not have an issue with their wives making more money than they do. It may bother others, but not enough to cause an irreparable rift in the marriage. Then there are men who feel as though they failed to live up to their obligations. Over time, the relationship falters and eventually ends. To be fair, some women cannot handle making more money than their husbands do, and they begin to view their husbands differently, which can also degrade the marital relationship.
The number of successful women continues to grow thanks to changing attitudes about a woman’s contributions to the workforce. They are no longer expected to remain in the home, but men and women alike continue to expect the husband to earn more than the wife does. Until this changes, it could still contribute to the end of marriages here in Illinois and elsewhere.
It probably does not surprise many people that money issues continue to cause disagreements that could lead to divorce, so the above information should not be a surprise either. Whether a particular individual’s earning capacity plays a role in the end of the marriage varies from couple to couple. What remains the same is that each couple needs to resolve their divorce issues in a fair and equitable manner, which may require some advice and assistance.
