The High Rate of Divorce in our Society: Causes and Solutions -By Fatimah Hamid Omotayo

Divorce can be defined as a legal or illegal way of ending the marriage between the couple. So unfortunate that divorce has become the order of the day in our society. However, in this piece of write-up, the causes of divorce would be explained and the way to prevent a marriage from divorce.

One of the major factors that precipitated divorce is domestic violence. This occurs if one of the spouses is beating or threatening his/her partner.

Domestic violence takes multiple forms which include physical, verbal, emotional, economic, religious, reproductive, and sexual abuse, which ranges from subtle, coercive forms to marital rape and to violent physical abuse such as, choking, beating, female genital mutilation, and acid throwing that results in disfigurement or death.

Once the domestic abuse is discovered, some people go for divorce immediately, considering it as the best option, while some instead, attempt to work through the problems with their spouses.

Illnesses can be harmful to a marriage, it creates debt and pain and, loss of self. It reduces the love between the couple when fall sick all the time, taking a huge amount of money and time to take care of, whereby it creates difficulties in the marriage.

Extramarital affairs, when a married person engages in sexual activity with the opposite sex other than their spouse, this act breaches trust and can also lead to divorce.

The lack of commitment can cause the state or quality of being dedicated to a cause and activities and when a marriage lacks commitment, it can be jeopardized and lead to divorce.

Since the causes of divorce have been succinctly explained, it is crucial to elucidate the ways to curb the menace of a high rate of divorce in our society. There are many ways to prevent divorce in our marriages, and here are some ways to curtail the widespread of divorce cases in our society:

(1) Make time with your spouse: Try to create time with your spouse, there must be periods you communicate with your spouse every day, depends on how you both spend your days. Do things together every day and make sure you communicate with each other before going to bed every day. This enhances love and makes it stronger.

(2) Avoid grudges: Avoid holding grudges with your spouse or keep malice. When this sets in, you won’t be able to express your feelings and how you feel about what he or she did wrong to you, this act depreciates love and can lead to divorce, so, avoid it.

3) Compliment your spouse regularly: Always praise each other and do not embarrass each other in public, if you have to correct your spouse, let it be when you are both alone.

4) Remain faithful: Be loyal and straightforward in everything you do concerning your business, and how you deal with the opposite sex, it promotes trust between you and your spouse and prevents your marriage from jeopardy.

5) Be your partner’s best friend: Make your spouse your best friend, make your spouse your utmost priority, confide in your spouse, and let your spouse be aware of your day-to-day activities, it builds trust in your marriage.

6) Respect your spouse’s in-laws: Respect them and never disrespect them or split bad or hate speech on them, see them as your parents they are your parents, so, be good to them and take good care of them.

Finally, let God be your guide you seek as your helpful, He is the controller of all affairs, He never forsakes us and He loves us. When you allow him to be your guide and intervene in your affairs, you would be happy for sticking to Him as your guider.

Fatimah Hamid Omotayo is a student of Education and Biology, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto.