The divorce rate has risen since the 1950's. In the 1950's, divorce was looked down upon. No matter what happened between both partners, they still had to stick together. Marriage was a sort of set rule for people in those days. They were suppose to teach their children that divorce was not right by staying with each other even though they were not happy at all. Whitehead feels that it is best when both partners divorce as long as it makes them happier that way. A couple should not have to stay with each other and suffer because it will only bring pain to themselves and their children. .
The 1950's was a very strict era where divorce rarely happened and not talked about at all if it did happen. "For most of the nation's history, divorce was a rare occurrence and an insignificant feature of family and social relationships"(Whitehead, 620). Everyone had to have a perfect family, it was never said that both parents did not have problems, but they were suppose to work things out amongst each other to set an example for their children. The rates have really risen since then because it is felt that if a person is not happy in a relationship that this person should end it. "At the same time, splitting up has become an even more entrenched fact of American life. About 38,800 people were married last year in Maryland, and about 17,000 were divorced. In Howard County Circuit Court, there are more divorce cases filed than any other type of case"(O"Hagen). Because of these high rate before couples marry they go through a certain amount of hours of marriage counseling. This is supposed to decrease the rate of divorce. .
Divorce is such a big issue that it should be thought about before taking action upon. It is thought to being a sin in some religions. When both parents take those vows to be with each other till death do part, they are suppose to take heed to those vows because they are taking those vows in the Lords house.
