You’ve likely heard that half of all marriages end in divorce, but have you ever wondered why exactly these marriages end? This article uncovers 18 of the most common reasons women choose to leave their spouses, from abuse to simply growing apart.
Infidelity
As you may have expected, cheating plays a big part in why women leave their husbands. In fact, TechReport states that “about 20% of married men cheat on their spouses.” Naturally, emotional and physical affairs break trust, which then leads to the breakdown of other relationship components.
Communication Issues
When two people fail to communicate, there can be endless misunderstandings and unresolved conflicts. Women can begin to feel unheard or misunderstood by their partners, and the lack of open and honest dialogue can turn what would have been small, easy-to-fix problems into bigger ones.
Physical and Emotional Abuse
Unfortunately, as shared by the National Domestic Violence Hotline, around 35% of women experience some form of abuse by an intimate partner in their lifetime. This is another reason that women end their marriages—for their own personal safety and to break out of a pattern of power and control.
Financial Issues
Financial struggles can put a real strain on a relationship, leading to two stressed spouses who end up non-stop arguing. Disagreements over spending, savings, and financial decisions can also cause problems in a marriage as partners realize they have differing financial values and priorities.
Lack of Equality
Another common reason that women end their marriages is that they feel the distribution of responsibilities is not balanced. For example, as shared by Greater Good Magazine, “Research suggests that even when women work outside the home, they are still shouldering more of the household load.” They end up feeling overburdened or underappreciated.
Lack of Intimacy
For many reasons, there can be a decreasing physical and emotional connection between spouses as time goes by. Those who may have started out as a very intimate couple can end up feeling more like roommates. Intimacy issues can stem from deeper emotional disconnects and changing feelings, which may end up with women leaving their marriage.
High Expectations
Women sometimes go into a marriage with high (and perhaps unrealistic) expectations about roles, responsibilities, and behaviors. When their partner doesn’t live up to these expectations, it can lead to frustration, disappointment, and resentment—which is when the marriage begins to break down.
Growing Apart
Sad as it may be, some women end their marriages because they feel they’ve grown apart from their partner over time. Diverging interests, goals, or personal growth trajectories can leave couples feeling disconnected or out of sync with each other. A lack of shared visions for the future is another deciding factor.
Not Being Prepared for Marriage
Some couples rush into marriage all too early in their relationship and aren’t prepared for the realities and complexities of marital life. They may begin the marriage with unrealistic expectations or inadequate preparation, which as you’ve likely guessed, leads to unhappiness in the home. At this point, some women choose to walk away.
Change in Life Goals
Shifts in one or both partner’s careers, personal interests, or life paths can leave them feeling misaligned. When one partner changes significantly, the other may feel left behind or can struggle with adapting to their new goals or changes. This is all too often the beginning of the end.
Lack of Support
When women don’t feel supported in a marriage, especially during troubling times, they may begin to consider ending it. This often happens when they’re feeling alone in dealing with life’s challenges and their partner isn’t able to provide them any comfort or understanding.
Incompatibility
As hard as couples try to make it work, sometimes they just have to accept that they’re incompatible. Fundamental differences in their personalities or values often become more apparent over time—such as their lifestyle, hobbies, or social preferences. Some women end their marriages when they feel they have nothing in common anymore.
Sexual Incompatibility
“Sexual compatibility refers to two partners having shared or similar sexual needs, including sexual preferences, turn-ons, and desired frequency,” as per Brides. When this isn’t the case, it can lead to frustration and dissatisfaction within the marriage—resulting in one partner eventually ending it.
Addiction Issues
Struggles with substances, gambling, or other addictive behaviors can wreak havoc in any type of relationship but can hit a marriage particularly hard. Addiction can truly overshadow a relationship and lead to neglect and resentment. The non-addicted spouse often feels powerless and exhausted.
Mental Health Issues
Likewise, mental health issues can cause women to end their marriages, whether they’re the one struggling or their partner’s struggles are affecting them. Mental health can significantly change someone’s behavior and emotional availability, which can put a strain on both partners who often can’t seem to cope with the challenges.
Life Transitions
Some women choose to end their marriages when big life transitions come into play, such as retirement, moving, or changing jobs. This is because the stress that results from these transitions can highlight or worsen existing issues. Other couples find it difficult to adjust to a new life stage together.
Domestic Responsibilities
According to Forbes, “62% of US employees have a partner who also works full time.” With both spouses tired and stressed out from their work, disputes often arise over household chores and responsibilities. Some women feel overwhelmed or unfairly burdened by domestic life and subsequently choose to leave.
Early Marriage
Marrying at a young age often plays a big part in why women eventually end their marriage, and this is because they enter the marriage without fully knowing themself or their partner. As individuals evolve and mature, learning what they really want from life, early marriages often face challenges.
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