Divorce has become a common practice within the contemporary society. In particular, this practice is dominant in developed nations (Cornia 10).
Governments have taken transformative legal considerations. The considerations aim at keeping up with the high rates of divorce. These measures are undertaken to ensure all people are acquainted with the legal implications in divorce. Majorly, family and civil laws have the largest dominance in solving divorce-related suits. In developing world, the customary laws are used to solve certain issues of divorce.
However, there are debates concerning issues of equality and gender discrimination in the practice of these customary laws. Therefore, the predominant contemporary legal frameworks within these nations are frequently applied to solve problems associated with divorce.
Cases of divorce are eminent within all populations. Notably, most studies indicate the disparities in the occurrence of divorce within different segments of population. For instance, it is true that cases of divorce are more rampant amongst people with low income. This trend is also notable amongst couples with low levels of education (Cohen & Wright 18).
Generally, these categories of people are more likely to undertake divorce as compared to the individuals with high income. On the other hand, there are minimal cases of divorce within populations of married people that have high levels of economic income and quality education. These patterns are evident in the developing countries as much as developed nations.
Various theories and explanative models have been advanced to explain these disparities (Benson & Marshall 21). Theorists and marriage sociologists continue to expound on this matter. The lack of quality and empirical processes includes some of the potential hurdles that hinder comprehensive explanations on this matter.
The poor and less educated families have limited access to basic psychosocial support services within the society. Scholars indicate that proper counseling before marriage is critical. This is for all partners intending to indulge in the institution. Professional marriage counselors offer these services at high rates.
Religious leaders are also involved in counseling processes (Wolfinger 34). Nonetheless, adequate counseling knowledge is derived from trained professionals. Most poor and less educated people are not even aware of the existence of these services within their immediate environments. In the contrast, the rich and well-educated people have this information. They appreciate the significance of utilization of marriage counseling services.
Apart from this, they also have the financial and material capacity to access these services from the best professionals (Cornia 23). These observable gaps make the poor and less educated individuals engage in marriage blindly. Their marriages are blemished with fierce fights and disagreements. These have led to high cases and rates of divorce. Principally, this is because of incompatible partners.
Psychologists indicate that most social systems compromise the wellbeing of the poor people. As a result, they live in fear and anxiety. They are susceptible to making irrational decisions and choices in life. This factor increases their vulnerability to divorce (Wolfinger 55). Economists argue that financial satisfaction is a key indicator for harmonious and peaceful co-existence with others.
It is evident that an economically stable and well-educated family remains united. In addition, such a family has a peaceful life in the society. This is the direct opposite of any poor and less educated family. In this context, there is a lot of instability. The couples always engage in wrangles. Blame game is the order of the day. In addition, persistent faultfinding leads to the loss of trust and love between the couples.
Children with poor backgrounds are not mentored in a proper manner. They grow up to be irresponsible and ill-mannered mature adults. This propagates the cycle of sustained divorces and family problems. Stress and depression may make people indulge in negative activities in the society (Giddens & Philip 39).
The poor and less educated families may suffer from stress and depression. This state of mental discomfort is more likely to affect the entire family. Consequently, the emergence of deviant behaviors, such as drug and substance abuse, becomes notable within these families. According to various public health statistics, drug and substance abuse is a leading cause of chaotic and abusive families.
Once couples engage in drug abuse, several other challenges emanate in their families. These are mostly social and violence related. Their judgment and reasoning capacities are also tampered severely (Cohen & Wright 23). They engage in violent activities within their families as much as in the external environment. Indicatively, the result is always the case of broken marriage and lethal divorce.
Rich and properly educated people are not likely to suffer from the severe consequences of drug and alcohol abuse. They have adequate information regarding these deviant practices. Therefore, they are more competent to control these influences and maintain responsible social and marital relationships. Their constructive practices enable them to lead successful family lives and nurture their children to be responsible personalities in the future.
Some poor and less informed people involve themselves in devious activities to increase daily income (Cornia 45). Certain empirical investigations indicate that poor people are more likely to engage in dangerous and life threatening occupations. They are driven by the urge to satisfy their most basic demands.
Perhaps, this explains the reason for rapid emergence of sex work. Presently, many married people are involved in commercial sex work. This trend is mostly noted within urban settlements. The poor people are more susceptible to this practice for reasons of economic benefits.
Sex work has detrimental implications and effects on family life. Those who practice prostitution are more prone to divorce and family problems. The adequately informed people rarely engage in such heinous social practices. This tendency happens because such people are financially stable and they can afford daily meals as well as other luxuries. Therefore, there is no need for additional pocket money.
Poor couples grapple to meet the basic and standard needs of everyday life. These may include food, shelter, adequate protection, good health and access to proper education. From these examples, it is evident that there is a lot of financial pressure. Moreover, there is also an urgent need to prioritize these basic demands in a proper way. Conflicts usually arise in the division or delegation of responsibilities.
This may be partly due to limited resources (Cohen & Wright 45). Couples usually feel overburdened in relation to the definition of gender roles in the different societies. They tend to create unnecessary conflicts and resort to divorce. These groups of couples also consider divorce as a fundamental way of escaping their weighty marriage responsibilities.
Children from broken families lack the privilege to stay with their parents. Thus, they lead most of their lives in blatant hardship. This contributes a lot to the welfare of their future family life. Conflict resolution is a crucial initiative within all social areas. Ideally, it is the benchmark for effective and successful social relationships (Benson & Marshall 44). This is also inclusive of marriages as respected human institutions.
However, not all people have adequate access to services geared towards conflict resolution. The rich and well-educated individuals have access to various conflict resolution and arbitration services. This may also include services aimed at solving marriage conflicts. Perhaps, this explains why they are able to resolve their family differences in a constructive and sustainable way. Interestingly, this may not be the case for the poor people.
Normally, poor and ignorant people apply physical tactics to resolve their conflicts and differences (Strong, Christine & Theodore 62). Normally, these efforts lead to fights and broken marriages. Various civil bills related to inheritance of property and asset suits are associated with poor people.
Poor families have many legal tussles involving claim of property and assets. These may include physical properties, such as buildings and cars. Additionally, finances are also heavily involved. In such cases, divorce is usually used as the main tool to initiate peace and separate involved parties. Particularly, this is evident in situations where couples are the mostly affected. These observations are rarely notable amongst the rich and properly educated people.
The rich individuals have resources to compensate their losses (Strong, Christine & Theodore 81). The process occurs in an open and voluntary manner compared to the case of the poor individuals. This empowers their capability to surrender on most civil bills and legal suits that are likely to have negative impacts on their marriages.
Researchers emphasize on the important role of family welfare and lifestyle in nurturing children into responsible adults. An effective child bearing and care require a lot of resources and time dedication. The rich people have the financial and material power to fend for their children.
The economically stable families are able to bring up and nurture the children in more contemporary and rational manner. Consequently, these children develop proper self-esteem, maturity and logic compared to their counterparts from poor families (Giddens & Philip 79). The rich couples also are able to provide their children with quality education. This is vital for effective growth and development of a normal human being.
Hence, these children have a possibility to initiate healthy associations with their peers. They grow into adults with respectable life and social orientation. This minimizes their vulnerability to marriage or family conflicts and divorce. However, these indications are not true for the poor families (Cohen & Wright 73). Their children suffer from the obvious effects of poor upbringing and child mentoring.
The poor people cannot access transformative and formal education systems. They also suffer from low self-actualization and lack the sense of individuality. They fail to develop and establish successful relationships. This happens due to the fact that they are at trouble with themselves.
These negative characteristics extend into their marriage life. They make irresponsible parents, husbands and wives. The ultimate fate usually consists of chaotic marriages and a series of divorces (Benson & Marshall 87). The lack of adequate knowledge is a recipe for a life full of disasters. Along with extreme poverty, people under this category depict negative social trends. It is important to indicate that ignorance plays a very significant role in increasing the rates of divorce.
Ignorance causes low self-esteem and lack of confidence. Ignorant and less educated people are not likely to engage in a constructive dialogue. Most of their relationships are based on material grounds. These are always overtaken with time, leading to broken relationships and divorce (Wolfinger 97).
Psychological implications of extreme poverty may be hazardous to many people. The lack of proper education and knowledge worsens this condition. Poor people are deprived of the initiative to engage in innovative projects. Therefore, their daily lives become routine. This creates boredom in their marriage life.
The different detrimental factors interact to create a powerful synergy. This has negative consequences in the marriage lives of the poor couples. In addition, dietary limitations within poor families may also lead to severe family conflicts and cases of divorce (Strong, Christine & Theodore 112).
Clinical nutritionists correlate poor dietary practices to increased level of family conflicts and divorce. The main causes of dietary limitations include poverty and ignorance or lack of sufficient education. All these are evident within poor and inadequately educated families.
In conclusion, it is fair to state that the impacts of divorce are usually dangerous to victims. Particularly, the younger population is grossly affected. Social and individual factors lead to divorce. It is evident that there are more cases of divorce amongst poor and less educated families.
Additional empirical investigations are necessary to help in the prevention of this dangerous trend. There is a need for establishment of awareness campaigns and advocacy initiatives. These should be focused specifically on the vulnerable people. Knowledge empowerment is a critical tool for enhancing individual roles in prevention of divorce. Consequently, there is an urgent need for comprehensive action against divorce.
Works Cited
Benson, Janette B. and Marshall M. Haith. Social and Emotional Development in Infancy and Early Childhood. Amsterdam: Academic, 2009. Print.
Cohen, Lloyd R. and Wright, Joshua D. Research Handbook on the Economics of Family Law. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar, 2011. Print.
Cornia, Giovanni A. Child Poverty and Deprivation in the Industrialized Countries: 1945-1995. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1997. Print.
Giddens, Anthony and Philip W. Sutton. Sociology: Introductory Readings. Cambridge: Polity, 2010. Print.
Strong, Bryan, Christine, DeVault and Theodore F. Cohen. The Marriage and Family Experience: Intimate Relationships in a Changing Society. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/Cengage Learning, 2011. Print.
Wolfinger, Nicholas H. Understanding the Divorce Cycle: The Children of Divorce in Their Own Marriages. New York, NY: Cambridge Univ. Press, 2005. Print.