This article written for the BBC focuses on statistics which confirm that in the UK and other Western countries, the majority of decisions to divorce in heterosexual relationships are made by the female spouse.
The article goes on to explore the various reasons behind this statistic, and the long-term effects ending the marriage can have on both parties.
The article makes an interesting read; however it is important to remember that each marriage is of course made up of two, unique individuals. Thus, the general principles from the article are not applicable to all cases.
It will be interesting to see whether the recent overhaul of the divorce system in England and Wales, allowing couples to divorce without any blame/fault, will impact upon the statistics moving forward. Watch this space!
In the UK, ONS statistics showed women petitioned for 62% of divorces in England and Wales in 2019. Now, in some Western countries, divorce is becoming easier; the UK, for instance, recently legalised no-fault divorces, which means couples now have a quicker and more straightforward route to break up. This change in rules could open the door for even more women – who might have been hesitant before – to file for divorce.
https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20220511-why-women-file-for-divorce-more-than-men
