Divorces are as common as marriages themselves. Couples marry and when something goes wrong in their relationship they divorce. Divorce is now a popular solution to problems that many couples have. In the past several years, the divorce rate has skyrocketed to a record high of almost fifty percent. It is also believed that the divorce rate is higher in the United States than in any other country in the world. Although divorce is not always the answer, it is sometimes necessary for many situations. This raises the question of why divorce is more common today than it was in the past. Some reasons for seeking a divorce include infidelity, domestic violence, and a lack of communication, among others, which I will be discussing in the following paragraphs.
In the past, when a couple divorced, there had to be a good reason for it. The main reason happened to be infidelity. Often, in the past, the adulterous affairs that occurred were between a man and a woman and we refer to this type of relationship as a heterosexual relationship. This kind of affair is still popular today, but more and more we see marriages ending because one partner, or in some cases both, decides that he/she is bisexual or homosexual. This kind of relationship can destroy a marriage. We see this situation glamorized on popular television talk shows such as Jerry Springer. The more people that see these kinds of behaviors on television and the way that they are handled tend to think that this is okay. They will run to see a lawyer and pay the lawyer about one hundred dollars to receive a quick uncontested divorce; thus, their problem is solved until next time.
In the nineteen sixties, the "sexual revolution" began and many couples rebelled against the constraints of marriage. Moviemakers and journalists became rich extolling the virtues of free love and liberation. For example, my mother has told me of a friend of hers that has experienced this type of situation in the nineteen sixties.