When you look at the statistics, women file for divorce roughly 70% of the time. Technically, of course, either spouse is allowed to do so, but it is women who initiate the divorce proceedings in most cases.
But why is this? You can certainly see some major trends. Some research indicates that women are more likely to feel that their emotional needs are not being met in marriage, for instance, so they will look for another partner. But there are bigger societal factors in play, as well.
Growing independence
One of the main reasons is that women have more independence today than they did in the past.
For example, in the United States, women were not allowed to open their own bank accounts or lines of credit until the 1970s. The Equal Credit Opportunity Act was signed into law by President Gerald Ford in 1974. This made it so that women could take out credit cards without having to have a male cosigner on the same account.
This is just one example of how things have changed. Women also have more freedom to start their own careers, so they tend to have more financial independence. They can start businesses or buy homes on their own.
For women in 2025, much of this feels very natural and expected. But it is important to consider how recently society has changed and evolved, giving women the independence that they deserve. Women are no longer trapped in marriages for financial reasons the way they used to be, so they may be more likely to move forward with divorce.
Modern divorce can be complicated. If you and your partner are splitting up this year, be sure you know exactly what legal steps to take to protect your property rights, child custody rights and much more.
