’Til Divorce Do Us Part: Marriage Dissolution in Later Life

The female spouse: A process of separation when a husband 'comes out' as gay

“…Most recalled fearing (hence presuming) societal stigma and being alone: “I did not want to be a divorcee”. In line with previous research, the women experienced the personal reactions commonly associated with a marital separation, such as stress, anger, fear and pain in processing the marital loss [ 35 , 36 , 37 ], concerns regarding their children, financial concerns and changes to their living arrangements [ 38 , 39 ]. Being ‘older’ was an added consideration.…”

“Once Bitten, Twice Shy? Gender Differences in the Remarriage Decision after a Gray Divorce”

“…As reflected in previous research, one set of women with these conditional pro‐remarriage attitudes exhibited a desire for a new distribution of marital labor in the wake of their divorces (Canham et al. ; Clarke ; De Jong Gierveld ; Määttä and Uusiautti ; Schmiege, Richards, and Zvonkovic ). In other words, they indicated that they would only remarry if they could negotiate particular combinations of paid labor, housework, and/or caregiving that were fairer to them going forward.…”

“…Because remarriage is not something that can be "experimented with" or "tried on" in the classic sense of Ebaugh's model, these costs and benefits took the form of certain behavioral criteria that they laid out for their future spouses that might make them exit their divorced role and remarry. As reflected in previous research, one set of women with these conditional pro-remarriage attitudes exhibited a desire for a new distribution of marital labor in the wake of their divorces (Canham et al 2014;Clarke 2005;De Jong Gierveld 2002;M€ a€ att€ a and Uusiautti 2012;Schmiege, Richards, and Zvonkovic 2001). In other words, they indicated that they would only remarry if they could negotiate particular combinations of paid labor, housework, and/or caregiving that were fairer to them going forward.…”

“…Alternatively, these women discussed their choice to ultimately remarry only if they could negotiate a division between paid and unpaid work with their new partners that they considered fair (Canham et al. ; Clarke ; De Jong Gierveld ; Määttä and Uusiautti ; Schmiege, Richards, and Zvonkovic ). However, other women did not mention caregiving but rather only a desire to be considered equals with their spouses in their remarriages, which for them represented a marked change in interpersonal dynamics from their previous marriages (Watson, Bell, and Stelle ).…”

“…For example, some of these women described agreeing to remarriage only if they could bring their own substantial financial resources into the new union; in this way, they refused to be bound to providing traditional household and caregiving responsibilities in return for economic support. Alternatively, these women discussed their choice to ultimately remarry only if they could negotiate a division between paid and unpaid work with their new partners that they considered fair (Canham et al 2014;Clarke 2005; De Jong Gierveld 2002; M€ a€ att€ a and Uusiautti 2012; Schmiege, Richards, and Zvonkovic 2001). However, other women did not mention caregiving but rather only a desire to be considered equals with their spouses in their remarriages, which for them represented a marked change in interpersonal dynamics from their previous marriages (Watson, Bell, and Stelle 2010).…”