Mankeeping and the Rise of Gray Divorce in the U.S.
In recent decades, a noticeable shift has occurred in statistics related to divorce filings. According to data published by the American Psychological Association, while roughly two-thirds of divorces are filed by adults under the age of 50, the rate of so-called gray divorce has risen from 8.7% of all filings in 1990 to 36% of filings in 2019. While divorce rates among younger adults have been dropping, divorce rates among couples nearing or enjoying their retirement age have been surging. Among the reasons for this shift are burnout related to mankeeping and increasing social acceptance of divorce in cases involving domestic violence.
If you have been married to your spouse for many years, the financial, legal, and practical consequences of divorce are likely to be complex. By seeking guidance and support from the LLF Law Firm’s Family Law Team as proactively as possible, you can approach this process in informed ways likely to result in a favorable outcome. Talk to us about your case today by calling 888-535-3686 or by contacting us online to learn more about the ways in which we advocate effectively for our clients’ interests.
Women (Primarily) Have Had Enough
In recent years, there has been a lot of discussion online, in the media, and in academic literature about the concept of emotional labor within marriages and co-parenting arrangements. Within the context of a family, emotional labor broadly refers to the mental load required to maintain relationships, run a household, and/or raise children. When an unreasonable percentage of emotional labor is shouldered by a non-male spouse or partner in favor of a male spouse or partner’s well-being, that imbalance is now commonly referred to as mankeeping. And (primarily) women are sick of bearing this burden.
Society has recently become more aware of the toll that emotional labor generally, and mankeeping specifically, has on spouses and partners who carry an imbalanced amount of it. As a result, those struggling under the weight of unhealthy expectations and deferring their own well-being are becoming more empowered to leave when it is clear that no meaningful change in this imbalance is occurring.
Similarly, spouses who may have once been encouraged to remain in their physically and/or emotionally abusive relationships are, in many cases, feeling increasingly empowered to leave. A host of social norms that regulated expectations of spouses when retirees were young no longer apply in most areas of the country. Thankfully, this means that more people long stuck in unhealthy marriages are choosing to seek healthier futures solo.
Legal Assistance Is Available
Many older adults may question whether divorce is a viable financial option as they approach or are already embracing retirement. Divorce is unquestionably expensive, and that can be daunting in one’s later years. Thankfully, though, there are ways to manage the financial fallout of divorce that can allow older adults to start the next chapter of their lives in healthy, stable, and secure ways. The reputable Family Law Team at the LLF Law Firm practices nationwide, which allows our clients to benefit from extensive knowledge and experience regarding how to make a gray divorce scenario as successful as possible.
Just as every marriage is unique, so is every divorce. Tell us about your unique circumstances today by calling 888-535-3686 or by contacting the LLF Law Firm online to learn about how we can help you to move forward. We look forward to hearing from you.