The number of divorce rates is constantly growing in South Africa, with women often being the initiators of this rising trend. Exploring the reason behind this, we touch on factors such as financial independence, unmet expectations, caregiving imbalances, and changing social norms.
The South African Government Statistics shows us a significant imbalance between the number of men and women initiating a divorce. By 2022, 55.8% (11 277) women asked for a divorce compared to 33.2% (6 700) men. Also, we see that (5.4%) 1 100 divorce cases, were jointly initiated by both genders.
In examining the country, it is evident that the provinces with the highest divorce rates are Gauteng with 5 778 divorces, followed by Western Cape with 3 591 divorces, and KwaZulu-Natal with 3 074 divorces. These provinces are not only leading the South African economy but are also growing quickly, which might be why they have higher divorce rates.
Here is a simple visual presentation of the data above:
Let’s go through the key reasons why women in South Africa are filing for divorce. Some curious brains from Twelve Marketing Inc. found that the leading factors are:
Economic Independence
Unlike the past, when women had to be dependent on their spouses. Women are now greatly financially independent and do not rely on marriages for economic stability. Studies have shown that women’s earnings and employment increase post-divorce, a strong indicator that financial independence plays a role in the decision to divorce.
Financial Expectations from Their Partners
Women historically have preferred partners who can provide resources. In modern times, this preference translates to financial stability. A study led by Gillian Parker states that women achieve increasing career success and financial independence, as a result, dissatisfaction can manifest if their partners do not meet their financial expectations.
Physical attractiveness
Women prioritize partners who are healthy and physically attractive. Therefore, successful women always look for partners who meet these standards to secure their children’s genes or, as one Twitter comment put it, “have a better breed of children.” Gillian Parker’s study also emphasizes that women value qualities such as symmetry, facial attractiveness, masculinity, and social dominance, especially during times of high fertility. If these expectations aren’t met, or at least one, they become dissatisfied in their marriages and file for a divorce, especially if they can sustain themselves financially.
Caregiving Mismatch
Regardless of women being independent, they still contribute more to childcare and general housework. This imbalance in household responsibilities (cooking, cleaning, preparing kids for school, etc.) creates stress, resentment, conflict, communication breakdown, and divorce. Women feel pressured to keep traditional roles while managing their careers. Divorce has so many contributing factors, these being the modern-day issues. Tip of the iceberg if you ask.
