A researcher at Stockholm University recently published a paper in which she highlighted how women who land big job promotions are more likely to get divorced than their male counterparts. The lead researcher of the study presented various reasons why this is the case.
The study’s authors interviewed various women and men employed by private sector employers as part of their research. All of the interviewees worked for companies with 100 or more workers. The researchers found that married women who assumed chief executive officer (CEO) roles had twice the divorce rates of their male colleagues who received similar promotions three years out.
It doesn’t seem that women getting divorced after a significant job promotion is a new thing though. The researchers reviewed public sector job records for the past three decades. They discovered that female law enforcement officers, politicians, pastors and doctors were two times more likely to divorce after receiving a promotion than men.
The researchers provided many theories for the higher divorce rates among newly-promoted female professionals. One of the most notable ones is that these job promotions create a shift in traditional gender roles. This often leads to conflict, especially if it takes the woman away from caring for the kids or home. The lack of time that the couple can spend together places a strain on the relationship as well.
One of the lead researchers on the study contends that this divorce trend lends credence to the long-held theory that most men don’t like playing the role of supportive spouse to their wives’ careers. The study’s researchers note that women who marry spouses who are closer in age to them tend to enjoy more egalitarian relationships. They note that it’s important that the husband has high career aspirations and success though too for things to work out.
Ohio is an equitable distribution state. This means that any Hamilton judge presiding over a divorce case is expected to divide up a married couples’ assets fairly between the two of them. This may include income made by either party during the marriage.
If you’ve recently been promoted and you’re concerned about how this may impact property division discussions, then you should consult with an attorney. Your lawyer can help you broker a deal with your ex to keep as much of what you’ve earned in your pockets instead of it going to your Ohio spouse.
