College-Educated Women Initiate Divorce More Despite Lower Rates

A new analysis reveals a paradox in divorce patterns among college-educated women: while they divorce less overall, they initiate divorce at higher rates than less-educated women. The study, based on data from the National Survey of Family Growth and the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, shows that education reduces the likelihood of divorce but concentrates the decision to leave among those with more resources. Researchers suggest that higher education equips women with economic independence and expectations of egalitarian partnerships, making them more likely to exit unsatisfying marriages. The findings challenge assumptions about marriage stability and highlight how gender dynamics within marriage shift with educational attainment. The paradox underscores that marriage demands different things from women depending on their socioeconomic status.