Is it Harder for Men to Initiate a Divorce?

This article on The Good Men Project takes an interesting look at one of the difficulties faced by couples in unhappy marriages. Women are statistically more likely to end a marriage, but often the guilt felt by men at the thought of withdrawing needed support for their families causes them to act out while staying in the marriage. Once the decision to end the marriage has been made, those seeking an intentional, compassionate divorce will direct a lot of energy toward finding the best solutions for everyone involved.

Some of the concerns brought up by men considering leaving a marriage are simply the difficulties that everyone faces during a divorce, including sharing custody and having less time with children, or having to find a way to split existing resources between two households. Other worries, such as being blamed by friends and family or feelings of not being a good enough father/husband can be improved by a better understanding of how relationships grow and sometimes eventually end.
It’s important for all of us to realize that blame is not attached to gender when it comes to divorce, and that sometimes leaving a relationship is the only healthy decision left for everyone involved.