The rate of divorce has grown steadily in the last few decades. Although the numbers of divorce saw a decrease by 2.4% in 2014, it’s still heavily affecting the population, especially younger generations who have seen parents divorce. Divorce is not the dirty word that it used to be, and in Australian culture it is a common occurrence. Approximately 40% of marriages are expected to end in divorce (Australia Institute of Family Matters, 2016). How do other countries match up against Australia? Is it an increasing phenomenon on a global scale or a first world luxury?
The Australian Bureau (ABS) recorded 121,197 marriages and 46,498 divorces in 2014. It is largely a joint application between partners, making up 41.5% of applications, with females filing for 32.5% of divorces and men 26%.
The median age for divorces is increasing, aligning with the increased median age for marriage in Australia.
Is Australia getting married too quickly? Or is it too easy to get married and too easy to undo it all? This high rate of divorce in Australia is mirrored in other powerful countries; France, Germany and the U.S are all in the same ballpark as Australia. This makes the option of divorce seem like a luxury for powerful or ‘developed’ countries, doesn’t it? The factors involved are not so simple.
The data below show five countries, all on different continents and their percentage of divorced women.
[infogram id=”a9d71bf7-d9fb-4138-a8f4-64a16fec3f9f”]
The figures indicate where each country stands with divorce, but it’s not an accurate indicator for the ‘power’ of the country.
Italy is a developed country, with as much tourism-based success as France or Germany, yet the divorce rate is so low. Italy’s low percentage of divorce is due to it’s heavy following of Catholicism. According to the Association of Religion Data Archives 88.6% of Italians are catholic whereas the 2011 Australian Census only identified 25.3% of the population as Catholics.
The same Data from the UN showed that 5.4% is the highest rate of divorce in South Africa, which is seen in women between 45-49. In the same age group 10.7% of South African women were widowed, in comparison to the 1.9% of widowed Australian women.
The Chinese culture involves itself where divorce is concerned as it is seen as ‘shameful’. It is vastly different to Australia or the United States who have different cultural facets alive in their country. These facets make it easier to think freely and let individuals choose their own paths and happiness. It is unfortunate that some of the time, it is their situation or partner that can cause their initial unhappiness.
The increasing age in marriage and divorce is resulting in a lower number of divorces involving children under 18. The number of affected children dropped from 41,747 in 2013 to 40,152 in 2014.
The Average number of children affected by divorce is 1.8 children per divorce.
Is Australia handicapping their children with the increased divorce rates? Are children in other countries better off living with both parents or is it better to have separated but happier parents? None of these questions can be answered without extensive empirical evidence.
Divorce not only affects the living conditions of a child but it becomes a part of their life and shapes their identity. Many children of divorce and separation have differed views on marriage from the ‘traditional’ sense, due to the circumstances of their upbringing.
Two students aged 21 and 19, who have divorced and separated parents respectively, were asked their views on marriage
The student whose parent’s were divorced said that she found it harder to meet appropriate partners and to judge what constitutes a ‘healthy’ relationship.
“I’m not against marriage, I just don’t want anything to negatively effect my future kids.”
This is a view that most individuals would share, that the effect on the children was a significant factor. However in high conflict situations the separation of parents is more beneficial for the child than to stay together (Robert E. Emery, 2016).
Whereas the student we asked, whose parents were separated after 15 years and 2 children, said “I didn’t go through anything dramatic, I just don’t see the need [for marriage].”
The next generation’s experiences with such an increased percentage of divorce will hopefully allow them to take a step back and begin to drastically decrease Australia’s burgeoning divorce rates.
References:
–https://aifs.gov.au/publications/family-matters/issue-35/family-facts-divorce-trends
–http://www.thearda.com/Archive/Files/Analysis/RELITALY/RELITALY_Var348_1.asp
–http://data.un.org/DocumentData.aspx?id=322
-http://emeryondivorce.com/staying_together_for_children.php
