| Why is the UK drawing so much attention? Divorce | | | | home to go to work is a thing of the yester years. |
| rates are high in a few other West European nations | | | | In fact, a jolly old granny, still working and glamorous, |
| too. What is drawing statisticians down here is the | | | | may start a new affair at 65. There is much support |
| rapidly changing demographic contours of the nation. | | | | being offered on the part of the elderly where their |
| The statistics reveal a people moving through a time | | | | grandchildren are concerned. More than 75% of |
| of great flux. The very fact that this data is being | | | | grandparents in the UK are in favour of granting |
| considered as an important matter of study is itself | | | | visitation rights to them too when their children |
| an indication of the opinion of a generation. | | | | divorce, and are ready to help the grand children tide |
| A History of the Relations | | | | over the troubled times under their care. However, |
| Only 2% of men and women born before 1930 | | | | most fight shy of providing continued financial |
| cohabited before marriage. By the 1960's, the number | | | | support to the divorced offspring or to grand children. |
| rose to 50%. Around the middle of the 1980's, the | | | | Divorce and the Middle Aged |
| attitude towards cohabitation changed massively. This | | | | If we take the 40 - 55 group as middle-aged, the |
| was when we were poised at the brink of the digital | | | | ruling trend is divorce, followed by remarriage. People |
| age, the concept of retail was changing, home | | | | of this age group are at the peak of their career, |
| businesses were beginning to flourish, and the children | | | | have children, and are earning well. They also divorce |
| were becoming more neglected. Cohabitation was | | | | the least, and remarry quite often. Child care |
| previously considered a preamble to marriage. But | | | | tendencies among them are also highest, and four |
| now cohabitation began to come up as a solution for | | | | out of five divorced mothers have voiced the opinion |
| divorcees to turn over a new leaf, avoiding a second | | | | that they are willing to go out for work if they only |
| brush with marriage. For young people it became an | | | | had access to proper daycare for their children. |
| alternative to marriage itself. Now there is no doubt | | | | Poverty among single parents is a major problem in |
| that it is a strong trend for long-term partnerships. | | | | this sector, and there are couples who are actually |
| Divorce, in the meantime, has become quite | | | | dragging on with a marriage because they know they |
| commonplace. The divorce rates rose steadily over | | | | won't be able to give their children all that they need |
| the years, before slumping in 2005, and it is hoped | | | | if they separated. The middle-aged group seems to |
| that the slump will persist. However, this is not a | | | | be having the greatest variety of opinions as well, |
| result of a sudden spurt of successful marriages all | | | | and survey results are highly uneven, suggesting that |
| over the country. In fact, the number of marriages | | | | attitudes changed over localities, economies and |
| solemnised in 2005, has reached an all-time low when | | | | cultures within the nation. |
| compared to the statistics for the past decade. So | | | | Divorce and the Young |
| the best way to avoid getting divorced is not to get | | | | Young people, 25 - 35, are losing faith in marriage. So |
| married at all. | | | | divorce is not on the horizon. Those who do get |
| Divorce and the Elderly | | | | married early are splitting soon. Divorce rates have |
| It is stunning but true, divorce rates among the sixty | | | | been the highest among the 25 -29 group for five |
| plus group have been on the rise for the past few | | | | years now. |
| years. More 55+ men and women are also getting | | | | Divorce and Children |
| married than ever before. The concept of the old | | | | They are the worst-hit, and most neglected, despite |
| man in 'slippers and pantaloons', shaking a | | | | all the awareness campaigns and support groups. |
| disapproving finger at young women who leave their | | | | Divorce, for them, is only pain and confusion from |
| husbands, get a divorce, and then leave the child at | | | | the unfair world of adults. |