Do Higher-earning Women Wind Up Divorced?

We’ve all heard about factors that increase the risk of divorce: lower socioeconomic status, marital infidelity, and domestic violence are three of the biggies. We’ve even heard that diminishing levels of intimacy and empty nesting can play a huge part in marital dissatisfaction. But it may surprise many to learn that there is another issue that is becoming a real problem for some marriages: it’s when a woman earns more than her husband.

Numbers Worth Knowing 

Some interesting statistics prove the point:

• Divorce rates for heterosexual households where the woman is a higher earner are triple the rate of households where the man is the higher earner.
• In households where a woman is the single breadwinner, divorce rates are double the rate where the man is the single breadwinner.
• Although female breadwinners comprise only 16 percent of American households, these households represent 42 percent of all divorces.
• These divorce patterns have been occurring for at least a decade.

Why the Big Deal? 

Despite real changes over recent decades, societal norms hold that men should earn more than their wives, leaving women more time to manage the house and kids. In the “good old days,” women were expected to find satisfaction and fulfillment by succeeding in their traditional roles, but these days women are looking for achievement in careers that mean something to them. And with the number of women who earn as much or more than their husbands tripling over the last 50 years, traditions have been tested. And deviating from tradition comes at a cost.

Women Expect More 

Women today expect more in terms of personal and emotional fulfillment in their relationships, and their tolerance for imbalance is waning. Higher earnings bring financial independence, and that allows women to walk away from marriages that don’t work.

Men Have Issues 

One study revealed that as women start to earn more, their husbands are at increasing risk of mental health issues. Most frequently, the mental health problems were linked to substance abuse.

Another study found that when men out-earn their wives it gives men a psychological boost, and when they don’t earn more, it makes them unhappy. As the pay gap between partners increases, so, too, does the level of satisfaction or unhappiness, depending on who’s the higher earner.

One final study found that men experienced more stress when they were the sole earner in the family, and their stress tended to level out when women contributed to household income. However, when women earned up to 40 percent of what their husbands earned or more, men became more and more uncomfortable, and experienced higher levels of stress.

When Divorce Comes Knocking 

Regardless of the circumstances, if you find yourself looking at a divorce, the experienced Springfield divorce attorneys at Courtney & Mills will fight for the best possible outcomes for you. To discuss, schedule a confidential consultation in our Springfield office today.

Source:

fortune.com/well/2025/03/13/couples-most-likely-to-divorce-have-this-in-common/