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RisingDivorceRatesinCanada
Beyondtheshadowofadoubt,itisclearlyevidentthatthesociallandscapeofCanada
hastransformedintothatofamuchmoreliberalizedcultureoveranumberofyears.Onesuch
alterationtothisoncerelativelyconservativenationhasbeentheroleofdivorceamongthe
Canadianfamilyunit.Undeniably,theprobabilitythataCanadianmarriagewillendindivorce
hasrisen,as[a]ccordingtoStatisticsCanada,about38percentofallmarriagestakingplacein
2004willhaveendedindivorceby2035.Thetotaldivorceratewasdownslightlyfromitspeak
ofabout41percentinthemid1980s,butslightlyhigherthantherateofabout37percent
recordedinthemid1990s.1Whilethereareamyriadofreasonswhythisisthecase,the
increaseindivorceamongCanadiansisprimarilyduetorisingrealincomesamongwomen,a
declineinthenationalbirthrate,andthedeclineinreligiosityamongCanadians.
Undeniably,therehasbeenasignificantincreaseinthenumberofwomeninthe
workforceandtheeverincreasingimportanceoftherolethatwomenplaywithinit,ultimately
empoweringwomentoleaveunhappymarriages.Since1976,thepercentageofwomeninthe
workforcehasincreasedfrom41.9%to57.9%in2010,whiletheworkforceparticipationratefor
menhasdeclinedfrom72.7%to61.6%2.Clearly,womenplayamuchmoreimportantrolein
theworkforcetodaythanin1976,amerethirtyfiveyearsago,simplygiventhemalefemale
ratiooftheCanadianworkforce.Shouldawomanin1976beinclinedtodivorceherhusband
andliveonherown,thelikelihoodthatshewouldbeemployedismuchlowerthanhadthe
womanlivedin2010.Ceterisparibus,awomanperformingcostbenefitanalysisin2010would
bemoreinclinedtodivorceherhusbandsimplyduetothefactthatitwouldbemorelikelythat
14in101stmarriagesendindivorce:reportCBCNews4Oct.2010.RetrievedOctober18,2011.
2StatisticsCanada.(2011).Employmentrate,bygender,19762010(percent)[table].RetrievedOctober18,2011
fromHumanResourcesandSkillsDevelopmentCanada.

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either(1)sheisalreadyemployedor(2)willbeabletofindemploymentduetothediversity
amongthesexesintheworkforce.Awomanattemptingtojointheworkforceinthemale
dominatedworkforceof1976wouldhavelesssuccessthanawomanattemptingtojoinamore
sexuallyvariedworkforcein2010.Itisalsointerestingtonotethattheunemploymentduration
forwomensince1997hasreducedfrom23.6consecutiveweeksin1997to18.7consecutive
weeksin20103,soshouldanunemployedwomanwantingtodivorceherhusbandbe
unemployedin2010,shewould,onaverage,findemploymentsoonerthanawomaninthesame
situationlivingin1997.
Furthermore,notonlyhaveemploymentratesamongwomenincreased,averagereal
wagerateshavealsogoneinthesamedirection.Since1997,realwagesforwomenhave
increasedfrom$599perweekto$701perweekin20104.Shouldawomanlivingin2010want
todivorceherhusband,notonlywoulditberelativelyeasierforhertofindemployment(ifneed
be),butitwouldalsobemuchmoreeconomicallyfeasibleforhertoliveonherownandbethe
primarybreadwinner.Despitethefactthatmenstillhavinganaverageweeklywagerateof
$9415,ahigheraveragerealwagerateforwomenwouldstillprovidethemtheempowermentto
leavehermarriageshouldshebeunhappyinit.Itisworthnotingthatthepostsecondary
participationrateofwomenageeighteentotwentyfourhasincreasedfrom18%in199091to
28%in2005066.Whileacorrelationbetweenrisinguniversityparticipationratesandhigher
3StatisticsCanada.(2011).Unemploymentduration,bygender,19972010(consecutiveweeks)[table].Retrieved
October25,2011fromHumanResourcesandSkillsDevelopmentCanada

4StatisticsCanada.(2011).Averageweeklyearnings,bygender,19972010(constant2010dollars)[table].
RetrievedOctober18,2011fromHumanResourcesandSkillsDevelopmentCanada

5Ibid.
6StatisticsCanada.(2006).Participationinuniversityeducation,population1824years,bygender,19901991
and20052006(percent)[table].RetrievedOctober25,2011fromHumanResourcesandSkillsDevelopment

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RisingDivorceRatesinCanada
realwagesmayormaynotexist,itisdefinitelyclearthatCanadianwomenaresmartertoday
thantwentyyearsago,andtheyarebeingcompensatedforthisriseineducation.Withouta
doubt,theheightenedimportanceoftherolewomenplayintheworkforcecoupledwiththeir
welldeservedrealwagerateincreasehaveplayedaroleinempoweringwomentoleavetheir
unhappymarriagesanddivorcetheirhusbands.
Inadditiontorisingemploymentratesandrealwages,adeclineinthenationalbirthrate
hasalsocontributedtotheriseindivorceamongCanadians.TheCanadianbirthrate,whichhas
declinedfrom4birthsperwomanin1956to1.5in20017,thelowestratesince1871.Generally
speaking,awomaninanunhappymarriagewithmorechildrenasopposedtofewerchildrenis
lessinclinedtodivorceherhusbandduetotheincreasedemotionalinvestmentinthemarriage,as
wellasthehardshipsofdeterminingcustodyofthechildren.Moreover,thereisalsotheissueof
childsupportpayments,ascourtinCanadamayrequireaspousetopayforthesupportofanyor
allofthechildreninthemarriage8.Givenaloweringbirthrateandthefactthatchildsupport
paymentsmustbemadeforsome(perhapsevenall)oftheirchildren,eitherspouseinanunhappy
marriageperformingcostbenefitanalysisastowhetherornotsheshoulddivorcehisorher
spousewouldundoubtedlyfeelthatthereisalowercosttodivorcenowadaysthanatotherprior
pointinCanadianhistory.Withhouseholdsproducingfewerandfewerchildren,onaverage,the
costsofchildsupportpaymentshaveundoubtedlybeenreduced.
Canada.

7HealthCanada(2005).Changingfertilitypatterns.HealthPolicyResearchBulletin,issue10,page8.Retrieved
October25,2011fromuOttawaMed:Society,theIndividual&Medicine.

8DivorceAct(R.S.C.,1985,c.3(2ndSupp.)).StatutesofCanada,c.9.Canada.DepartmentofJustice.2006.
DepartmentofJustice.Web.RetrievedOctober18,2011fromDepartmentofJustice,Canada

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Also,itisimportanttoalsomentionthattheaverageageofawomanwhogivesbirthwas
29.3in2008,muchhigherthantheaverageageof26.71in19759.Ariseintheaveragebirthage
wouldalsocontributetotheincreaseintherateofdivorceamongCanadiansduetothefactthata
29yearoldwomanismorelikelytohaveastableincomeandsecureformofemploymentthana
26yearoldwoman.Thetimedifferencebetweenthesetwoagesissufficientforreceivinga
promotion,finishinganyoutstandingeducationalresponsibilities,orpayingoffasignificant
portionof.Evidently,thefallingnationalbirthrateandrisingaverageageofwomengiving
birth,coupledwiththerisingrealwagesamongwomenandmen,playanenormousrolein
determiningthecostsofdivorcingonesspouse.Ceterisparibus,alowerbirthratehas
unquestionablyloweredthemonetaryandemotionalcostsofeitherspousedivorcingtheironce
betterhalfshouldthemarriagebeanunhappyone.
Finally,adeclineinthereligiosityamongCanadiansisyetanotherexplanationforthe
risingrateofdivorceamongCanadians.AccordingtoStatisticsCanada,thelargestreligious
demographicamongCanadiansisRomanCatholicism,with29,639,035membersinCanadain
200110.WhilenotallCanadianssubscribetoanyorallofthetenetsofCatholicdoctrine,itis
commonknowledgeofficialdecreefromtheVaticanforbidstheinstanceofdivorceamong
Catholics,andotherreligionswithsimilarJudeoChristianvaluestypicallyreiteratethesesame
sentiments.Ontheotherhand,thosewithlittleornoreligiousaffiliationdonothaveanyofficial
dogmaticstancesontheissueofdivorce.ThedemographicofCanadianswhodonotaffiliate
9StatisticsCanada.(2011).Averageageofmotheratchildbirth,Canada,19442008(years)[table].Retrieved
October25,2011fromHumanResourcesandSkillsDevelopmentCanada.

10StatisticsCanada.(2001).Religion(95A),AgeGroups(7A)andSex(3)forPopulation,forCanada,Provinces,
Territories,CensusMetropolitanAreasandCensusAgglomerations,1991and2001Censuses20%SampleData
[table].RetrievedOctober18,2011fromStatisticsCanada.

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RisingDivorceRatesinCanada
withanyreligionhasincreasedfrom3,397,000in199111to4,900,095in200112,anincreaseof
44%.Ontheotherhand,thenumberofCatholicsinCanadahasincreasedfrom26,994,040in
199113to29,639,035in200114,asmentionedabove.ThenumberofCatholicsinCanadaduring
thistenyearperiodhasremainedrelativelyunchanged,withapercentageincreaseoflessthan
1%;however,thenumberofirreligiousCanadianshasincreasedbynearlyonehalf.Evidently,
thenumberofCanadianswhodonotsubscribetoanydogmaticreligionshasincreased
dramaticallyrelativetothenumberofCatholics,whosenumbershaveremainedstagnantorare
decreasing,asitisestimatedthattherewillbeoneAnglicanleftinCanadain206115.This
declineinreligiosityhasundoubtedlylessenedthesocialtaboothatdivorceoncehadinCanadian
culture,reducingthecostofdivorceduetothefactthatitsbecomesomewhatofasocialnormin
Canadiansociety.Furthermore,asthenumberofatheist/agnostic/humanistCanadiansincreases,
individualswhosubscribetothesesecularworldviewsarealsounsubscribingfromthedogmatic
antidivorcetenetsanddecreesofotherchurchesandreligions,whichwouldallowpublic
toleranceofdivorcetogrow.ThisrisingnumberofnonreligiousCanadiansaswellasstagnant
11StatisticsCanada.(1991).Religion(95A),AgeGroups(7A)andSex(3)forPopulation,forCanada,Provinces,
Territories,CensusMetropolitanAreasandCensusAgglomerations,1991and2001Censuses20%SampleData
[table].RetrievedOctober18,2011fromStatisticsCanada.

12StatisticsCanada.(2001).Religion(95A),AgeGroups(7A)andSex(3)forPopulation,forCanada,Provinces,
Territories,CensusMetropolitanAreasandCensusAgglomerations,1991and2001Censuses20%SampleData
[table].RetrievedOctober18,2011fromStatisticsCanada.

13StatisticsCanada.(1991).Religion(95A),AgeGroups(7A)andSex(3)forPopulation,forCanada,Provinces,
Territories,CensusMetropolitanAreasandCensusAgglomerations,1991and2001Censuses20%SampleData
[table].RetrievedOctober18,2011fromStatisticsCanada.

14StatisticsCanada.(2001).Religion(95A),AgeGroups(7A)andSex(3)forPopulation,forCanada,Provinces,
Territories,CensusMetropolitanAreasandCensusAgglomerations,1991and2001Censuses20%SampleData
[table].RetrievedOctober18,2011fromStatisticsCanada.

15Grossman,CathyLynn.ChristianchurchesinCanadafadingout:USAnext?USAToday11Feb.2010.Web.
RetrievedOctober18,2011.

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(andsometimesshrinking)religiousnumbersamongCanadianshaspavedthewayfordivorceto
becominganalmostnonexistentsocialtabooinCanadianculture.
Asexpressedabove,risingrealwageratesamongwomen,aloweringbirthrateand
declineinreligiosityhaveundoubtedlycausedanincreaseinthenumberofdivorcesamong
Canadians.AlthoughsomeindividualsmayviewthisasadetrimenttoCanadianculture,itis
undeniablethatthiscultureisafluidandeverchanginglandscapewithinnumerableinfluences
constantlyshapingandalteringwhatCanadiansperceiveasnormal.Whilethefutureremainsto
bewritten,itwillbeinterestingtoseewhichoftheotheraspectsofCanadianculturethatareseen
astabootodaywillbecomenormalizedtomorrow.
References
4in101stmarriagesendindivorce:reportCBCNews4Oct.2010.RetrievedOctober18,
2011fromCBCNews.
DivorceAct(R.S.C.,1985,c.3(2ndSupp.)).StatutesofCanada,c.9.Canada.Departmentof
Justice.2006.DepartmentofJustice.RetrievedOctober18,2011fromDepartmentof
Justice,Canada.
Grossman,CathyLynn.ChristianchurchesinCanadafadingout:USAnext?USAToday11
Feb.2010.Web.RetrievedOctober18,2011.
HealthCanada(2005).Changingfertilitypatterns.HealthPolicyResearchBulletin,issue10,
page8.RetrievedOctober25,2011fromuOttawaMed:Society,theIndividual&
Medicine.
StatisticsCanada.(2011).Averageageofmotheratchildbirth,Canada,19442008(years)
[table].RetrievedOctober25,2011fromHumanResourcesandSkillsDevelopment
Canada.
StatisticsCanada.(2011).Averageweeklyearnings,bygender,19972010(constant2010
dollars)[table].RetrievedOctober18,2011fromHumanResourcesandSkills
DevelopmentCanada
StatisticsCanada.(2011).Employmentrate,bygender,19762010(percent)[table].Retrieved
October18,2011fromHumanResourcesandSkillsDevelopmentCanada.

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RisingDivorceRatesinCanada
StatisticsCanada.(2006).Participationinuniversityeducation,population1824years,by
gender,19901991and20052006(percent)[table].RetrievedOctober25,2011from
HumanResourcesandSkillsDevelopmentCanada.
StatisticsCanada.(2001).Religion(95A),AgeGroups(7A)andSex(3)forPopulation,for
Canada,Provinces,Territories,CensusMetropolitanAreasandCensusAgglomerations,
1991and2001Censuses20%SampleData[table].RetrievedOctober18,2011from
StatisticsCanada.
StatisticsCanada.(1991).Religion(95A),AgeGroups(7A)andSex(3)forPopulation,for
Canada,Provinces,Territories,CensusMetropolitanAreasandCensusAgglomerations,
1991and2001Censuses20%SampleData[table].RetrievedOctober18,2011from
StatisticsCanada.
StatisticsCanada.(2011).Unemploymentduration,bygender,19972010(consecutiveweeks)
[table].RetrievedOctober25,2011fromHumanResourcesandSkillsDevelopment
Canada