Running head: CAUSES OF INCREASING DIVORCE RATE IN BANGLADESH

Causes of Increasing Divorce Rate in Bangladesh

University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB)

Date of Submission

20/6/2017

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Running head: CAUSES OF INCREASING DIVORCE RATE IN BANGLADESH

Abstract

Today the world is experiencing such generation where the concept of marriage is not a
big factor. But marriage and family are perhaps societys oldest and most lively institution. From
the beginning of life people have grouped themselves into families to find emotional, physical
and communal support. But sometimes because of some circumstances familial life become just
a hell. Its true that it is better to be alone than being with someone who makes you alone. Here
comes divorce! The study attempts to explore the increasing rate of divorce in Dhaka city
considering the social changes in Bangladesh. It might sound simple, but its not easy for a
husband and wife to decide to end a marriage. Often they spend a long time trying to solve
problems before deciding to divorce. But sometimes they just cant fix the problems and decide
that a divorce is the best solution. Change is a natural part of life, but when it happens to your
life, it is sometimes hard to deal with. With the help of the secondary data this paper will discuss
the concept of marriage and divorce in terms of the Bangladesh context with analyzing the
causes of increasing divorce rate. The study attempts to explore the increasing rate of divorce in
Dhaka city considering the social changes in Bangladesh. The study focuses particularly on the
urban middle class in the scope of the study. The study finds that a mix of traditional and modern
values and exception persists in the urban middle class in Dhaka city. The study discloses many
traditional reasons of divorce such as dowry, husbands failure in provider role, presence of
alcohol and drug addiction, infertility, physical violence and so on. The study finds the women
are faced by social exclusive and stigma, harassments in working place, difficulties in a second
marriage and so on.

KEYWORDS: The study attempts to explore the increasing rate of divorce in Bangladesh Dhaka
city

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Running head: CAUSES OF INCREASING DIVORCE RATE IN BANGLADESH

Introduction

Divorce is a well-known word by all but not experienced by all. It is the most painful and a
messy way to end up a marriage. People go through divorces after a long term of relation. And
some go through it quick, when they realize that their marriage is not working out. Thus, people
take decision to end up their marriage by taking up divorce. Family is not a static institution. In
recent decades divorce rates, have risen, and the defining characteristics of marriage have
changed. Divorce is a dissolution or termination of a marriage between married couples under
the rule of law of the country or state. There could be several reasons for wanting divorce from
my perspective. Philandering is one of them. Many spouses have get attracted to other opposite
gender even after their marriage which led to divorce at last. Sometimes husband & wife fails to
face each others want, after a certain period which became a cause of divorce. Husbands rough
behavior, fails to understand each other, dowry, stoke from relatives & other family members &
many more is the reason of divorce. Divorce rate is increasing rapidly. Its a considerable threat
for happiness of family. People are getting more self-oriented & they are less concerned about
their relationship with their spouse. Of course, in no way its good for a family. Many families
are lifting apart due to divorce. Childrens are being deprived from their parents love. Those
children are becoming desperate & drug addict later. Many spouses become frustrated after their
divorce & fall apart from their normal flow of life which also became a problem for their
relatives and family as they concern about him/her. Its not good from this sense but it can be
good in some cases. When a spouse is not concern about his family life & all just he/she do
which creates only problem for their family then I think in that case divorce is good for a family.
Divorced people tend to experience increased depressive feelings over time and pass the days
with great psychological changes because of the decline in the standard of living, current
economic difficulties and reduce availability of intimate, reliable support following divorce.
Marital termination provides some escape from a distressing relationship. One of the most
damaging consequences of the non-fault divorce is that systematically improvised divorced
woman and their children.

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Running head: CAUSES OF INCREASING DIVORCE RATE IN BANGLADESH

Review of Literature

Patterson (2001) a recent study by the Creighton University Center for Marriage and Family
suggests that time, sex and money pose the three biggest obstacles to satisfaction in the lives of
newly married couples. The study found that debt brought into marriage, the couples' financial
situation, balancing job and family, and frequency of sexual relations were of greatest concern to
those ages 29 and under. Those ages 30 and over shared with their younger cohorts the concerns
of balancing job and family and frequency of sexual relations, but also added as problem areas
constant bickering and expectations about household tasks. The study used a random sample
drawn from couples who had completed the focus inventory and had agreed to participate in
future research.

Another result from Becker (1977) describes the gains from the increased number of women in
the workforce. His results show that as more women enter the workforce with men, the
likelihood of getting divorced will increase. When he did the study in 1977, men had a
comparative advantage in the workforce and women had a comparative advantage at taking care
of the house jobs and children. As more women enter the workforce, the male comparative
advantage will decrease. When men no longer have a comparative advantage, women will not
have to rely on the men as the main financial supporters. Therefore, it will be relatively cheaper
to get divorced if men and women are involved in the workforce.

Choudhary (1988) has classified the factors in divorce in to two groups; environmental factors
and personality factors. Sub- classifying environmental factors, he refers to factors endogenous
as well as exogenous to family. In his study, 98.4 per cent male divorcees and 96.0 per cent
female divorcees did not remarry. It may be suggested here that correlation ship exists between
the economic status and the remarriage of the divorcees. He found that about three fifths lower-
class male divorcees in his study had remarried after divorce against one-fourth of the middle-
class and three-fifth of the upper-class divorcees

Cherlin (1992) offers another picture of the interaction of legislative, behavioral, and attitudinal
change. He reports that between 1945 and 1966, the greatest change in attitudes towards divorce
was not a growth in support but a growth in the dont know whether the divorce law was strict
enough or too strict. The real growth in support for divorce occurred between 1968 and 1974,

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Running head: CAUSES OF INCREASING DIVORCE RATE IN BANGLADESH

with an increase of 15% agreeing that it should be easier, and a fall of 21% agreeing it should be
more difficult. Cherlin concludes that the introduction of no-fault divorce in the early 1970s may
have been a response to liberalizing attitudes; but that the increasing numbers of people
divorcing reduced the stigma attached to divorce, helped to liberalize attitudes, and thus
increased the acceptability of divorce. According to this view, attitudes, behavior, and legislation
operate in a reinforcing loop.

Johnson (1988) in his book social welfare: a response to human need the causes of the increase
in incidence of divorce are many. He suggests that the technologically advanced society fosters
the attitude that almost anything is replaceable, including marriage. If it doesnt work, throw it
out. If the marital relationship does not meet the parents expectations or satisfaction, a divorce
seems to be the option which the couple chooses to end the relationship

Factor analysis revealed dimension underlying responses. The most factors were unmet
emotional needs, growing apart, life style, difference or boredom with the marriage and high
conflict demanding relationship. Statistically significant sex, age and socio economic difference
were found correlation between the function and individual psychological function, parental
function. (L&B,1993)

Summary& Conclusion

In this modern age, divorce is most common things than ever before. There have been steady
rises in divorce rate in the world as well as in Bangladesh throughout recent decades. There are
many causes for divorces such as lack of money, immaturity, sexual indiscretion and others.
Divorce makes get along or separated both the persons. In Bangladesh 72% divorces are
occurred for lack of money and sexual indiscretion, which is published in BBC news. In our
viewpoint, many of the divorce are occurred in the village site. It made for lack of education,
knowledge, culture and so on. However, divorce does not solve all the family or cultural

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Running head: CAUSES OF INCREASING DIVORCE RATE IN BANGLADESH

problems. Thus we, ourselves should take some steps to stop this divorce issue, which is taking
place in our generation.

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Running head: CAUSES OF INCREASING DIVORCE RATE IN BANGLADESH

REFERENCES

Patterson, A. (2001). Milton, Marriage and Divorce. A Companion to Milton, 279-93.

Becker, G. S. (1977). Women's employment, time expenditure, and divorce. Journal of Family
Issues, 6(3), 307-329.

Choudhary, J.N. (1988). Divorce in Indian Society, A Sociological Study of Marriage Disruption
and Role Adjustment.

Cherlin, A. J. (1992). Marriage, divorce, remarriage (Rev. ed.) Cambridge, MA: Harvard
University Press.

Johnson, J. (1988). Accounting for changes in the labor supply of recently divorced
women. Journal of Human Resources, 417-436.

Stevenson, B., &Wolfers, J. (2007). Marriage and divorce: Changes and their driving forces. The
Journal of Economic Perspectives, 21(2), 27-52.