Comparative Study of Two Marriages
... The causes of divorce discussed in this paper include, equity of housework and its relationship with two-income families, the Exchange theory and financial problems, Role Specialization Theory, age at marriage and premarital sexual activity and cohabitation. All these factors are very important and have been applied to varying degrees to the two case studies. ... These case studies are relevant to everyday life and demonstrate that role specialization and a stable net attraction combined with barriers can have detriment effects on the survival of marriages. ... There is always the cases of infidelity, spousal abuse and substance abuse, and financial burdens that put great strain on marriages. ... These theories have been developed in part as response to the relatively declining rate of divorce over the past two decades but also to identify the predictors of divorce. ... Since education provides jobs and independence women tend to not tolerate unhappy marriages (Heaton 2002). Education also implicitly impact marriages which will be discussed further. In the article Perceived Housework Equity, Marital Happiness, and Divorce in Dual-Earner Households in the Journal of Family Issues, the two authors examine this relationship in further details. ... The two main hypotheses tested were The Role Specialization Hypothesis and The Economic Opportunity Hypothesis. ... The latter one however states that the generalization that female employment results in unhappy marriages is not true and that in fact female employment only provides women in unhappy marriages with the means to end the union. ... According to Marital Happiness and Marital Duration and the U-Shaped Curve: Evidence from a Five-Wave Panel Study authors Amato, Johnson and Van Laningham show that “analysis indicates that certain life-course transitions, primarily those involving changes in the number of children at various ages, are associated with changes in marital happiness…that the presence of children--regardless of age--is associated negatively with marital happiness ( Amato, Johnson, Van Laningham 2001:1333-4). ... In the study conducted by Heaton, age at marriage as a factor in leading causes of divorce demonstrated to have the greatest impact on marital stability. More stable marriages and decreased rate of divorce have all been directly related to increased age at marriage (Heaton, 2002). ... There are many factors that indeed pose threats to marriages and cause divorce. ... The two case studies chosen for discussion in this paper represent the two possible outcomes of the constant struggle to help marriages survive. ... The two have been married for the past eight years and had dated for four years previous to marriage. ... Though as stated in the journal article Women’s Employment, Marital Happiness, and Divorce the Role Specialization Hypothesis had found little support, it seems that it is quiet evident in this case study. ... ” The degree of specialization in breadwinner-homemaker is far more than most marriages are used to, however there’s still much appreciation and acknowledgment for Diana’s efforts as Phil recognizes the fact that their arrangement “isn’t entirely fair (O’Brien 1977:98)”. It is possible that Diana’s lack of full-time employment could hypothetically cause her to put up with Phil’s neurotic and needy behaviour from time to time but as it is evident in the body of the study, Phil tries hard to compensate for his behaviour and makes admirable efforts to show appreciation. ... Maybe one week he’ll work seventy-two hours on his writing, but that doesn’t mean he owes me time (O’Brien 1977:98). ... She was only nineteen and Theodore twenty-two at the time of marriage (Wrenn 1980*). ... As the Role Specialization theory suggests, marriages are at their best when the roles of breadwinner and homemaker are emphasized in the union (Astone et al. ... Theodore had forty-two jobs since being married and had not been able to provide for his family as one expects from the head of the household due to the fact that he has been unemployed most of the time.