Marina Adshade, a Professor at the University of British Columbia, sheds light on the complexities of divorce and the cultural perceptions surrounding it. She discusses global divorce rates and their contributing factors. The conversation dives into how communication and evolving aspirations can strain marriages, illustrated through a woman's transformative journey from homemaker to student. Additionally, they examine China's new initiative aiming to lower divorce rates with a cooling-off period, questioning its potential effectiveness in addressing deeper marital issues.
Marina Adshade's experience illustrates that personal growth and changing life goals can lead couples to grow apart, contributing to divorce.
Countries like China are exploring initiatives such as cooling-off periods to improve communication and reconsider separation decisions amid rising divorce rates.
Deep dives
Changing Dynamics in Marriage
Marina Adshade's experience highlights the evolving nature of marriages, where initial compatibility may deteriorate over time due to changing personal goals and life circumstances. After becoming educated and pursuing her ambitions, she and her husband found themselves on divergent paths, emphasizing that growing apart is a common issue leading to divorce. Many couples may feel trapped in unresolvable situations, often due to economic or emotional factors that prevent them from separating. This insight suggests that supporting education and personal growth within relationships could help mitigate issues that arise later in life.
Government Intervention in Divorce
In response to increasing divorce rates, some countries, like China, have implemented strategies such as a 30-day cooling-off period for couples seeking separation. This initiative aims to give couples time to reconsider their decision and improve communication before finalizing a divorce. However, experts express skepticism about the effectiveness of this approach, arguing that lack of communication is typically the root cause of relationship failures. It emphasizes the need for comprehensive support, possibly through counseling, to facilitate better communication and resolution among couples.
How is divorce talked about in different countries? Georgie and Phil teach you some new vocabulary.
TRANSCRIPT
Find a full transcript and worksheet for this episode to help you with your English at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2024/ep-241024
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