HW4.3

INSTINCTIVE RICH OLD MEN, FEMINISTS, AND LAW MAKERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR HIGH DIVORCE RATES IN THE 1970S


First, the behavior of men that looking for younger women than their current wives caused the divorces. The wealthy old men could attract some younger women with their money. However, it hadn’t worked for old women by biological reason unless they are rich enough to attract them.

Secondly, Feminists wanted to get their rights back as individual, not wives or mothers. Some married middle-class women felt emptiness and meaninglessness about their lives and tried to being free from housework and find their own life through the divorce.

Lastly, No Fault Divorce, made by law makers, caused lots of unreasonable divorces. Since it didn’t required to submit the evidence that the respondent had committed a breach of the marital contract. Besides, it had limited the potential legal defenses of a respondent who would prefer to remain married.

Added paragraph; Episode of All In The Family

Popular TV shows from the 1970s show that a 'woman's place' in society at that time meant change in divorce laws were needed. In the show, the conservative householder, Archie responds, "Women's place is till in the home!", when his daughter told him that she is applying for a job. It symbolizes that there were still stereotype of women and It had suffocated them at that time.