• 17
  • December
    2010

A new study concludes that moderately educated, working-class Americans are increasingly likely to divorce. These results are in disproportion to married couples who hold college degrees. The study's findings have startled many people across Texas, because working-class couples have traditionally been less likely to divorce than other segments of the population.

The study's results focus specifically on the part of the working class that is moderately educated. These folks are described as the upper-working class; they have some education beyond high school, but do not hold college degrees.

The working class, often viewed as 'the backbone of America', has traditionally been known as having conservative views towards religion and marriage. Historically, these couples were less likely to divorce and more likely to consistently practice religious. However, new data shows that these philosophies are changing for the upper-working class. The most recent data shows that 37 percent of these marriages end in divorce.

Why the Change?

It is hard to nail down exactly why the unexpected trend is occurring, but most experts agree that the recession's crunch on working-class jobs has caused enormous stress to blue-collar marriages. A common factor in many divorces is financial stress and even the working class isn't immune to the pressure.

Other people believe that the upper-working class is experiencing erosion in religious principles, causing divorce to be more acceptable. Regardless of the reasons, the educated-working class has a variety of issues typically involved with a breakup.

The Issues Present in a Working-Class Divorce

The following are some of the biggest areas of concern for blue-collar couples seeking to go separate ways:

  • Child Custody and Support;
  • Spousal Support/Spousal Maintenance/Alimony;
  • Division of Physical Assets - the house, vehicles, pets and other property;
  • Allocation of Pensions and Retirement Accounts;
  • Child Visitation - the visitation schedule of a non-custodial parent.

These are just a few of the issues common in working-class divorces. Each marriage is unique and requires individualized attention to ascertain the needs and priorities of the parties.

Source: When Marriage Disappears: The Retreat from Marriage in Middle America, provided by the Institute for American Values and the National Marriage Project of the University of Virginia.