Recent generations have shown a remarkable shift in what would have been considered ‘traditional' American family dynamics, where the father worked and earned the bulk of the household income and the mother stayed at home and took care of the household.  Clearly, as society has continued to advance, more and more women have entered the workforce in the United States.  In addition, the recent recession and its resulting explosion in unemployment has resulted in more men staying at home.  This shift has led to an emerging phenomenon regarding divorce.

According to a study performed by the Ohio State University, where 3,600 families were tracked over time, whether the woman in the family worked had little if any bearing on whether a marriage would result in divorce.  However, if a man was not working and staying at home, the possibility that the marriage would result in a divorce rose sharply.  This was true whether or not the husband or the wife ultimately made the decision to file for the divorce, and there have been many different theories emerging regarding why this trend is continuing to develop.

Perhaps the most prominent theory that has been put forth involves the tendency for fathers/husbands who are unemployed to become depressed.  This theory has been tied to the long-standing ‘norm' that states that the husband is supposed to be the bread-winner in the family, and his inability to do so has led to an emotional state that can ultimately lead to the destruction of a marriage.

San Diego Divorce Lawyers

Clearly, the structure of the American family is changing for many reasons, and unemployment is continuing to be a tremendous weight on those who are unable to generate a livable income.  Therefore, those husbands/fathers who are in this position should work to avoid depression and other negative results of this difficult reality.

However, if you are considering bringing an end to your marriage, you need to seek the immediate help of San Diego divorce lawyers who have helped men move through this process for many years.  Contact the Men's Legal Center today to schedule an initial consultation.