Divorce, American Style: Fighting for Women's Economic Citizenship in the Neoliberal Era

In the 1970s, the divorce rate in the US doubled, leading to poverty for longtime homemakers. Divorce, American Style examines how newly divorced women and policymakers responded to the crisis, leading to policies that strengthened the social insurance system's use of marriage to determine eligibility for benefits. Activists' efforts to grapple with the legal system have affected high-profile debates such as the Affordable Care Act and marriage equality.

Format: Hardback
Length: 344 pages
Publication date: 28 May 2021
Publisher: University of Pennsylvania Press

In the 1970s, the divorce rate in the United States experienced a significant surge, leaving longtime homemakers vulnerable to poverty. This was not only due to their husbands being their sole source of income, but also because their insurance, retirement, and credit worthiness were intertwined with their spouse's employment. Suzanne Kahn's book, Divorce, American Style, delves into how newly divorced women and policymakers responded to this crisis. Surprisingly, rising divorce rates led to policies that reinforced the social insurance system's reliance on marriage for benefits eligibility. Many newly divorced women found themselves invisible within the American welfare state, as benefits were distributed primarily through their husbands. To address their needs, these women organized themselves into a political force and achieved significant success in securing legislation tailored to their circumstances. However, this required compromising with policymakers, who implemented laws that rewarded intact marriages with more robust benefits. These incentives continue to exist today, shaping debates such as the Affordable Care Act and the fight for marriage equality.

Divorce, American Style challenges the notion that marriage has become more flexible over time. Deep-rooted ideas about marriage and the family continue to exert a substantial influence on the structure of various social programs in the United States. The book sheds light on the complex dynamics between divorce, policymaking, and societal attitudes, highlighting the ongoing significance of these issues in American society.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780812252903