Education leads to awareness, not arrogance: Experts on growing cases of divorce

 Many of those, including psychiatrists and divorcees, whom DT Next spoke to agreed that “education empowers women to leave a relationship”, but a “potentially abusive” one.

According to a 2016 study, India had the least number of divorces globally, amounting to about 13 out of 1,000 cases. However, the study noted that societal and familial pressures, as well as arranged marriages that prevent divorce and adjustment for the case of family could be the reason for such a low number.

“Studies have proven that divorce is less among educated couples,” said Dr Vivian Kapil, psychiatrist at Sri Ramachandra Medical Centre. “These studies have been conducted for decades. Education empowers the parties to have better clarity, communication and problem-solving skills, which usually translates to lesser number of divorce cases,” he said.

For Sushmitaa Prabakaran, who received a divorce in 2019, education translates to employment, which further translates to economic standing in the household. “In my case, my ex-husband asked me to stop working. I was forced to ask him for money, even for things like buying sanitary napkins. These things introduce a powerplay dynamics, leading to tension in relationship. Later on, I began working to support our household, and it was an empowering moment for me. This sense of self-respect is important for any relationship,” said the 32-year-old.

Dr Kapil said he has seen multiple divorce cases across all socio-economic strata, the reasons for which are usually physical and emotional abuse due to alcohol or substance abuse by male partners.

“Staying in a toxic relationship is obviously unhealthy. I have seen wives with depression, suicidal tendencies and post-traumatic stress disorder. Children too grow up watching and sometimes suffer from this abuse, which often leads to them adopting these abusive behavioural patterns in their adulthood,” he explained.

These sort of statements from prominent members of society can reinforce unhealthy ideas of staying in an abusive relationship, he added.

However, Prabakaran preferred to disagree, saying, “By the time a person decides to have a divorce and goes through with it, they do not care what society thinks, no matter who they are. They find the strength from within to go through with it.”

According to Advocate Kamala Kumar, who handles family issues, divorce cases across educational and social backgrounds have increased.

“This is not due to education, but due to increased awareness. People are more aware of their rights as per the law. However, this can also be abused, and that is also an issue,” she said.