The Story Is the trad wife dream ending in divorce? - The Sunday Story
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Nov 23, 2025 Louise Callaghan, a US correspondent for The Sunday Times, dives into the complexities of the trad wife movement and its link to rising divorce rates in the Deep South. She discusses how traditional gender roles, heavily influenced by church culture, are leading women to question their prescribed destinies. Surprising statistics reveal that divorce rates are increasing despite a push for early marriages. Louise shares personal stories and highlights a generational shift as women strive for independence, challenging entrenched norms in pursuit of happiness.
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Church Shapes Gender Roles In The Deep South
- The church in Birmingham strongly assigns gender roles, teaching men are providers and women should submit to their husbands.
- That religious framing normalises homemaking duties as women's primary role and shapes community expectations around marriage.
Younger, Faster Marriages Raise Divorce Risk
- Divorce rates are rising in Alabama while falling nationally because marriages happen younger and with less premarital familiarity.
- Rapid, youthful marriages and purity culture lead couples to enter marriage with weaker foundations.
Sandra's Fast Courtship And Hidden Anger
- Sandra married quickly after a church-arranged introduction and became pregnant soon after beginning therapy for marital issues.
- She felt like a stranger in her marriage and had never been taught to identify or express anger.