1. Sociological Trends and Legal Changes

3.  Nearly 30% of new couples are meeting
online. (TIME Magazine, 2010)
 Facebook cited in 33% of divorce petitions
(applications). (UK study, 2011)
 What is it about social media/online dating
that creates such positive and negative
circumstances for couples?

4.  Why you think social media poses such a
threat to married couples, specifically those
having marital problems?
 Do you think this “online” problem will persist
for married couples in the future? Why?

5.  When marriage does not meet the
expectations of 1 or both partners.
 Lack of marital satisfaction
 Rates fluctuate as a result of Social and Moral
values
 Today: controlled by religion and government

6.  Ancient Romans – purely family
concern, rather than state governed.
◦ Very attainable, happened frequently
 Early Christians (11th-12th cent)
◦ First consideration from a religious standpoint.
 Catholic Church – Marriage as a Sacrament
◦ Marriage as a sacred rite, spiritual importance.
◦ Divorce was the breaking of something sacred.

7.  Functionalist perspective (stability created by
roles and division of labour)
 Traditional (economic, childrearing basis)
 Divorce meant suing for “matrimonial offence”
(adultery and cruelty)

8.  Romance as the basis for marriage.
 Assessment of satisfaction = how happy are
you?
 Divorce treated as “marriage breakdown”
 Divorce law reflects love and companionate
purposes of marriage.

9.  Divorce is increasingly common
 Divorce law decreases the time required to
get a divorce.

10. • Constitution Act
• Marriage and Divorce federally governed
1867 • 1925 – Adultery grounds for divorce (for women)
• Divorce Act -“Marriage Breakdown” after 3 years of separation
• Sharp increase in divorce rates
1968
• Divorce Act – 1 year of separation before divorce.
• “No Fault” divorce
1986 • Sharp increase in divorce rate.

11. Awareness, Separation,
Reorganization

12.  One person
requests/initiates
 Recognition of
ongoing problems
 Denial until
confronted by
request for divorce
 Begin shifting energy
to outside roles

13.  Plan the break up
 Settle child custody
and finances
 Notify
friends, family &
coworkers
 2 new households

14.  Establish 2 separate
lives
(social, financial)
 Form new social life
as a single person
 Negotiate new
parental roles

15.  In 1985 what changes were made to the Divorce Act?
 What is the “single ground” for divorce? What three
conditions can give reason for divorce?
 Define separation. Outline the conditions surrounding the
process of separation.
 Adultery and cruelty are still considered to be “matrimonial
offences”. Outline how these offences can and cannot be
used as grounds for divorce.
 What kind of evidence is needed to prove the presence of
adultery or cruelty? Why are these “offences” treated
differently?

16. What can these artworks tell us
about divorce as a
legal, emotional and physical
process?

23. The Legal and the Real

24.  Divorce doesn’t end on paper or in court
 After legal divorce there are emotional and
practical issues to cover
 Consequences are complex, and so are they
emotions
 New individual developmental tasks

25.  Arrangements for
property, possessions, children and spousal
support

26.  Legal action taken to keep the peace, protect
yourself, children and property.

27.  Only when disagreements cannot be resolved.
Law imposes a decision on the situation.

28.  If kids are involved, Judge will consider both
partners’ requests. Reasonable? Supported?

29.  Don’t expect too much from legal divorce
 Finalization won’t solve all problems
 Setting themselves up for frustration or
disappointment

30.  The reality and feelings that hit post-divorce
 Dealing with:
◦ Feelings
◦ Finances
◦ Friends and Family

31.  Ending one life,
beginning another
 Breaking old
patterns
 New Balance

32.  Breaking emotional bonds
 Habits and dependencies that connect you to
your spouse.
 Letting Go:
anger, guilt, blame, fear, resentment, tension.
 Achieve neutral view of ex-spouse
 Self-confidence and new openness.

33.  Mind and body cannot be separated!
 Internalized stress and feelings cause
physical symptoms
 Tension, stress, anxiety lead to illness
 Rates of suicide, accident victims & physical
illness

34.  Listen to your body
 Indicator of mental
and emotional
heath

35.  “taking care of business”, making ends meet.
 Safety, security, stability for you & children
 Financial realities for men and women

36.  Greater earning  Lower earning
potential potential
 More likely to remarry  Less likely to remarry
 More likely to have
 Higher standard or
custody
living
 Very low standard of
living
Men Women

37.  10% of those divorced feel that their life is
better.
 20% feel that quality of life is significantly
worse.

39.  A legal contract
 Summarizes obligations to one another
 Finances, property, children
 Can be made before of after marriage
 Promises to each other.