It used to be that divorce was taboo. People in Ohio may have stayed in unhappy marriages due to the social stigma of divorce, and if they did divorce, the situation was hushed up. However, according to a recent Gallup poll, the number of adults in the nation who stated that divorce is “morally acceptable,” is on the upswing, at 73 percent.
Moreover, 76 percent of unmarried adults found divorce to be morally acceptable. In fact, from 2015 to 2017, the number of married individuals in the United States were as apt as unmarried individuals to believe that divorce was morally acceptable. People who attended religious services at least once a week historically were opposed to divorce. However, even among these individuals, 51 percent now claim divorce is morally acceptable. Interestingly, the polls shows the approval of divorce growing even as the divorce rate itself in the United States has been on the decline in recent years.
Ultimately, the number of people in the United States who found divorce to be morally acceptable has gone up 14 percent since 2001. According to Gallup, back in 1954 only 53 percent of people in the United States “believed” in divorce, and 43 percent of people in the United States did not believe in divorce.
Even in 1968, around 12 months before the first state in the nation allowed married couples to seek a “no-fault” divorce, over 60 percent of people in the United States believed that a couple’s ability to divorce should be made “more difficult.” Despite this, by the mid-1980s, 49 states in the nation allowed for a no-fault divorce.
As this shows, the nation’s attitude regarding divorce has shifted over the decades. This can be seen as a good thing, as no one should feel like they are stuck in a crumbling marriage. Oftentimes, divorce is the best option for those whose marriage is no longer viable. It allows each spouse to obtain a fresh start as they move forward with their lives. Individuals in Ohio who want more information about how to obtain a divorce may want to discuss the matter with an attorney.
Source: Gallup, “US Divorce Rate Dips, but Moral Acceptability Hits New High,” Andrew Dugan, July 7, 2017