Is Divorce Harder for Men or Women?

 Posted on June 25, 2018 in Divorce

The effects of divorce can be difficult for spouses to handle, both emotionally and financially. However, some spouses seem to feel a greater effect and have greater difficulty adjusting. The fairness of the divorce agreement and the personality traits of each party can determine how people respond to divorce. Divorce researchers also wonder whether a spouse’s gender can predict how a divorce will affect him or her. Divorcees seem more likely to face certain challenges depending on their gender, but this idea may be based on gender stereotypes.

Problems for Women

Wives are often thought of as being more sensitive to their emotions and having less lucrative careers than their husbands. When applicable, these traits can have negative consequences for women:

• Women may identify themselves more by their marriage and family role than men do;
• A woman who made her own ambitions secondary to her marriage is less capable of supporting herself;
• Women may be less competitive and aggressive during the divorce negotiations;
• Women are more likely to have been the victims of domestic violence, which leaves emotional scars;
• Women are more likely to bear a majority of the parental responsibilities; and
• Women may take longer to start a new relationship after divorce.

Based on these stereotypical traits, women are portrayed as feeling more emotionally devastated by the divorce and remaining financially dependent on their husbands.

Problems for Men

Using the same stereotypes, people may believe that men are more financially independent and emotionally resilient than their former wives. However, emotional resilience may mean they are avoiding the healthy grieving process of a divorce. Men can have their own problems after divorce:

• Men also struggle with losing their identities as husbands;
• Men may be more likely than women to internalize their negative emotions, which may lead to destructive behavior;
• People are less likely to offer emotional support to men because they do not seem like they need it;
• Wives are often a motivator for men to maintain their health through exercise, healthy eating, and regular doctor visits;
• Men likely see their children less often than their former wives; and
• Men are more likely to rush into ill-advised new relationships and marriages.

Beyond Gender

None of these divorce-related problems are unique to one gender. Men can be emotionally sensitive and financially dependent. Women can ignore their emotional needs. A Kane County divorce attorney at Goostree Law Group will help you create a divorce agreement that meets your needs without making assumptions based on your gender. To schedule a free consultation, call 630-584-4800.

Source:

https://www.womenshealthmag.com/relationships/a19954534/women-and-divorce/