No offense to the ladies, but does today's trend of the "independent woman" contribute to the divorce rates?

HATE 2 PAY	it's not that Independence has anything to do with it, it's the fact that a woman can cheat on her husband or worse and when it comes time to split up she gets the kids,child support the car and maybe the house, there is no reason for a woman to stay with a man anymore. Hell i really can't blame them too much, just ditch a guy and still collect money from him and get a new guy, not a bad deal

Sweetheart	No there is no offense RockerDude..its a good question....I would think so because women now days are figuring out that they can do alot more than just sit at home. Maybe others have been in bad relationships and feel independence is best for them. There are alot of bad relationships. I saw it on a talk show once about that now women being "independent" is kind of a new trend.

*never give up*	absolutely.... women these days dont have to put up with all the sh*t men are used to getting away with

choice_4_men	Years ago husband and wife needed each other because they had widely differing skills. The husband had no idea how to watch the kids and the wife had few skills to be the breadwinner. Now women are educated and out in the workforce. This is good, but many women don't value a husband as much...thus the "single parent by choice" trend. Also women used to divorce only in extreme cases of abuse and first it had to be proven in court. Nowadays a woman will divorce her man if he even looks at her the wrong way...and the family court judge will break up the family, take away his kids and force HIM to pay her for many years. Now I like an independent woman to an extent, but I still want a woman that needs me for more than taking out the trash.

colodge_25	yes it totally does.

yutu34	If men and women had been equal and independant from the beginning, I doubt that 'marriage' would of happened, hence the 'divorce rate' is merely an indication that that equilibrium has returned. If men and women had been equal and independant from the beginning, I doubt that 'marriage' would of happened, hence the 'divorce rate' is merely an indication that that equilibrium has returned. Sorry, did I repeat myself?

yappyishappy	I'll start by telling you that I am a woman, and I am not offended. I would have to say, that a woman's Independence is a good thing for the most part, a woman needs to know she can look after herself if need be. However, I also think that "Independence" can be taken too far and yes could be a cause of the increasing divorce rate. As a divorced woman, I can admit that my Independence played a part in my divorce, but in my defence, I was told over & over that I needed him & couldn't make it on my own. I got independant to prove to myself that I could, and when I did, i liked it and decided to keep it.I don't think this is a yes or no question, it really depends on the guy as well as the woman. I still beleive that a woman can be independant and happily married, as long as she was independant before she got married, and keeps her independance . if the independent thing is new, then i don't think it works.

openminded	No offense taken. We woman are much stronger than our moms. Mine told me she never left because she felt she couldnt do it alone. She was proud of me for not putting up with cheating etc.. She wished she did what I did. So YES it must have something to do with it.

Maureen	If it does, then I guess we'll just have to learn to accept it, I think. I'd rather my daughter was an independent but divorced woman than a second class dependent piece of property and prisoner to someone.

barthebear	I think so; together with the advent of hormonal supplements, esp progesterone which can be agitating.

Reckless Ronin	Do not apologize brother. You're right, it is this "independent woman" bullcrap that is contributing to skyrocketing divorce rates. Many women claim that them being "independent," is protecting them from abusive husbands, thus causing the divorce rate to skyrocket. I'd like to see one study showing that 50+% of men are abusing their wives and thus causing the 50+% divorce rate. I can show you right now that women are more violent in relationships than men: http://www.csulb.edu/~mfiebert/assault.htm http://www.hisside.com/source_page.htm Quote: QUOTE(Glenn Sacks) Most child abuse and parental murder of children is committed by mothers, not fathers. Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration on Children, Youth, and Families, Child Maltreatment 1997: Reports from the States to the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (Washington DC, :GPO, 1999). See: http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/cb/public...ncands97/s7.htm. Child abuse perpetrators are 62.3% female. Child fatality perpetrators are 62.8% female. The mother/father ratio is actually greater than this, because many of the male abusers counted are not the biological fathers but instead stepâ€‘fathers, boyfriends, etc. Source on murders of children by single parents: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect, Third National Incidence Study Of Child Abuse and Neglect: Final Report Appendices (Washington D.C., U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect, 1997, pp. Aâ€‘63â€‘Aâ€‘64. The estimated total is 264 parental murders of children committed by single custodial mothers and 11 by single custodial fathers. There are roughly five times as many single custodial mothers as single custodial fathers. Source: Warren Farrell, Father and Child Reunion: How to Bring the Dads We Need to the Children We Love, Penguin Putnam Inc, 2001, pp 75-77. -End Quote Women in general are violent, dissatisified, and cruel. It just isn't mentioned much because it goes against the myth that women are sugar and spice and everything nice. Women are more violent, women will use violence in a relationship when none has been used against them, women initiate 70% of divorces. This is verifiable fact, not made up invisible abusive husband bullcrap. So yeah, independent women are full of ****, and you're better off avoiding them and finding women from out of the country (US here) who are proud to be women and don't have to assault or backstab their men to be feminine.

kp	Well, it contributes in the sense that women are no longer forced to stay in horrible marriages because they canâ€™t support themselves/need a man to do everything for them. I sure wouldnâ€™t want things to revert back to how they used to be.

SillierKimmie!	YES! Thank the feminist movement for corrupting women's minds into thinking that they deserve better than staying at home with your children! They think that they have to have a life outside of the home to be needed and to have some power. The children suffer by being thrown in daycare while someone else raises their kids, and not to mention the poor husband! I don't know, but any man that is sane should stay away from independent, power driven women who only care about themselves, and their needs. I am anti-feminist, and I really agree with your statement as to independent women contributing to the divorce rate. What's wrong with the way things were back fifty years ago? I work, but I do not have kids. We are saving up so when we do have kids, I will stay home and raise them. I want what is best for my kids, and my husband, and my needs come last. Right now, my husband's needs come before mine, and we have a great marriage. There is a difference between being selfless and being a doormat.

Theresa	The independent woman doesn't want to take care of a man. Instead she wants a man to work beside her not behind or ahead. That's the true answer to your question.

fear of the dark	probably. it's either women be independent and leave a marriage they are unhappy in. or stay unhappy in their marriage and be the submissive woman.

Answer Girl 2007	I say yes. Years ago women would not divorce because they didn't have the skills or the job experience to be out on their own and survive. Today, women have educations and jobs, they have the ability to support themselves and their families. I don't think this is negative. I think it's positive. Many women from years ago, felt trapped b/c they could not get out of abusive, un-loving marriage. They just lived with them. Today's women finally have choices.

Maricel S	If it does contribute to that, it would only be because some men are unwilling to accept and resist with all their might that "independent women" trend. If they were more willing to get with the times, there will be less friction.

Greg	Maybe, for a couple of reasons: 1. Women can feasibly survive out of marriage, and thus they don't stay in really bad ones forever. 2. Some women buy into a lot of demasculating hype thrown out by groups that basically don't like men, and that is used by women with low integrity to justify all sorts of bad behavior and weak character on their part. But does it really matter? I mean the idea is to have a GOOD marriage, not staying stuck in a situation that is bad for both partners.

trymejames	YES.. I believe it does contribute... For once woman are more susceptable to defy the husband at the slightest issue as they do they can fend for themselves and does not need the support of the husband..They also believe that if a marriage is failing they tend to adundant ship a little faster nowadays as they can easily find another suitable mate... that is unless they are still in the "youthful looking stage"... Having said that it takes two hands to clap... both husband and wife has to play their role... TRUSTING is not good enough.. HONEST, SINCERE, FORGIVING.... will bring you a long...long...way.... take care..

az_mommma	Not so much the independent woman as the feminist movement that told women they can do anything men can do, that children don't need mothers, that careers were more important than their families, that it's their bodies their choice. It's all insane to me. In trying to empower women all it has done is create generations of women who are selfish, self centered, and too blind to open their eyes and see the damage they create in their "independence".

Kyle	Maybe! But it could also be that we're finally realizing that we guys aren't treating women the way they deserve to be treated, and they're actually tired of being mistreated and treated poorly, so they're leaving. Maybe we guys should improve so our women would want to stay home and be with us.

ann s	we have to have independance, my mother was a stay at home mom and was considered a displaced homemaker when they finally divorced dad paid alimony i need to know i can take care of myself and not depend on anyone there are many contributors to the rising divorce rate, but applause to women's independance I think too many women stayed in misery just to have a roof over their heads i'll take independant & happy!!

Colleen O	No, the trend of women who don't take crap off of abusive husbands contributes to the divorce rates.

Bella	no no..it's not the amount of independant women. it's the increasing amount of men that try to treat us like we are dependant. once we catch on to that..we kick you to the curb. no woman should ever stand to being mistreated. hopefully those men will have learned the second time around. sometimes they still don't get it. i am an independant woman. i have walked out on a relationship and have left everything behind, only to have to start all over from scratch. but i did it. and i will not hesitate to do it again if i have to. but my husband treats me like a queen about 98% percent of the time (he's human, so he's allowed the 2%). so i have no worries.

Jada	I think it has something to do with it and I am a WOMAN. I just think that some woman put there jobs first and don't think about the kids and husband as much. I feel like woman are the more nuturing ones and they need to be there for the husband and kids.

Aloha	Perhaps from that angle yes. If someone was treating you like crap- y'know, beating you, cheating on you, stealing from you, calling you names, etc, don't you think you'd become "independant" too?

cs_ds_02	I doubt it. It probably takes some of the responsibility off the man. He doesn't have to bring home all the money, he doesn't have to handle all aspects of the couple's life. Of course, this does give the man more free time and allow him more time to go do things he shouldn't! Maybe that's the problem.......

Momof2	I would think so, I would like to be prepared for anything that is why I am studying just in case...

bronzebabekentucky	probably some of are Forced to be "independant" tho