November 15, 2011: HSC Itch among Women

By April Lopez

Post-HSC divorce happens when women in their 40s and 50s keep the family together for the youngest child's exams, then start making their plans for freedom.

Read more related articles: Divorce Forum Other World Divorce News Women and Relationships

This is one reason why divorce rates for Australian women in this age group are soaring higher than any other, relationship experts say.

From 2001 to 2006 there was a 0.7 percent increase in women divorcing in the 50-54 age bracket and a 0.6 percent increase in women aged 55-64 divorcing, according to the latest marriages and divorces report from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Divorce rates for younger women at the same also decreased.

Pam Lewis, the director of clinical services at Relationships Australia said marriage exit strategies or five-year plans were increasingly common for older women who were not satisfied and had delayed separation for the sake of their children's upbringing or education.

Such exit strategies would often coincide with their children's education - leaving the marriage as their children started school, left school or finished university, Lewis said.

Anne Hollonds, a psychologist, said she saw many examples of the post HSC divorce when she was the head of Relationships Australia NSW.

She said it's a common trend for women who are unhappy with their marriages to wait until their children finish the HSC or have left home.

Yvonne Alenn, owner of one of the first matchmaking services in Australia, has her own theory on why 40s and 50s women are divorcing.

Ms. Allen, who is also a psychologist, said a lot of women in this age group with the high divorce rates have focused on succeeding in careers that once weren't available for women. With expectations of life and relationships, the whole scenario changed.

Michelle Allen, a small business owner and mother of two, contemplated for a year before ending her six-year marriage at the age of 44.

She was unsure about taking on a single parent role, being financially secure and building her own web designing business. She realized she could make that transition once she started exercising and living a healthier lifestyle.

Now she's a lot happier in life.

Divorcing women in their 40s and 50s will face a lot of challenges. But it is how we choose to handle life's circumstances that matter in the end. We can choose to be truthful with ourselves, or we can choose to continue living a convenient interpretation. One way to make the divorce easier is through releasing negative thoughts and feelings.

Find local divorce information, click here: http://www.divorcemag.com/findprofessional.php.

Tuesday, May 15
at 8 pm to 8:30 EST
Out With the Tragedy: Turning Divorce into a meaningful experience
with Allison Pescosolido and Andra Brosh, founders of Divorce Detox
Learn More

Listen to podcasts of previous TeleSeminars.