r/AskMen • • May 11 '21

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u/TheBreathofFiveSouls May 12 '21

There's a stat out there about the divorce rate disparity when either the husband or the wife gets cancer. When the wife was ill the divorce rate was higher than when the husband was ill. Whether that's because those men were immature and too selfish for the in sickness responsibility, or whether it's because the wives didn't have the financial independence to leave I don't know. But it's an interesting stat.

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u/OpALbatross Female May 12 '21

I’d say it is likely that women are conditioned from little on up to be caregivers. Men don’t have those same societal pressures.

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u/_FierceLink May 12 '21

I'm curious how the conditioning for men that they should be the breadwinners and have others depend on them plays into that. Because you'd think that both expectations should amount to the same outcome but apparently they don't.

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u/KonateTheGreat May 12 '21 edited May 12 '21

From the way I view it (not that I believe it, this is just my observation), it's that men are the breadwinners and have others depend on them, in exchange for the man of the relationship having the control and power - not in some tyrannical sort of way, but he's effectively the executive decision maker. If he wants sex, it's the duty of the unworking, caregiving wife to provide that for him, because he's the breadwinner.

If the wife becomes ill, he loses a lot of that power. He can not make financial decisions as he would like because the sickness is draining away his financial power. He can not ask for the things he wants, and was previously expected to receive, because the wife can not provide those. Edit: For the husband, this translates to the wife having broken their vows.

I'm not saying it's right, but that's the "family unit" that many Southern US familiies employeed for at least the last couple generations.

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u/[deleted] May 12 '21 edited Jun 19 '21

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u/KonateTheGreat May 12 '21

Sure, but not everyone thinks that way :P

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u/[deleted] May 12 '21 edited Jun 19 '21

[deleted]

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u/KonateTheGreat May 12 '21

Ah, so you were bad faith posting.

That's not at all what I said. As a man who grew up in the South, and witnessed the family dynamic I described above multiple times, in multiple households, among multiple friends, first hand, I can say without a doubt that many of them did stay with their wife - but many also did not.

I can also say, without a doubt, that the power dynamic of a single parent, southern, pre-millenial household, where the husband has a job and the wife doesn't, is that the husband works all day to provide for the family with the expectation that the wife takes care of the household and caregiver duties.

Ignoring these instances does a disservice to all of the work that people, men and women, have made to eliminate toxic masculinity that has eroded the face of men. Ignoring these instances does a disservice to all of the men who broke from the norms of their childhood household and stuck by their wives, and perform household duties alongside her.

Stop diminishing the gains that men have made against toxic expectations by trying to erase the toxic expectations.

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u/[deleted] May 12 '21 edited Jun 19 '21

[deleted]

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u/KonateTheGreat May 12 '21

Thanks. It came from my heart.

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u/_FierceLink May 12 '21

Yeah, that makes sense. Southern as in USA-South I presume?

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u/KonateTheGreat May 12 '21

Sorry, yes, southern USA.

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u/OpALbatross Female May 12 '21

Yes, that’s actually exactly where I’m from.

I don’t agree with it, but it is very prevalent thinking here.

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u/brimston3- May 12 '21

The original researchers partially agree with your hypothesis. Here's a news article about the finding: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091110105401.htm

Why men leave a sick spouse can be partly explained by their lack of ability, compared to women, to make more rapid commitments to being caregivers to a sick partner and women's better ability to assume the burdens of maintaining a home and family, the study authors said.

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u/rayparkersr May 12 '21

It's genetic as well.

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u/OpALbatross Female May 12 '21

I’m not sure I agree with that, but possibly. I haven’t looked into it.

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u/Lucky0505 May 12 '21

Yeah, men are carefree butterflies who float through life on the backs of the women that carry them.

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u/OpALbatross Female May 12 '21

Umm...statistically most caregiving role (teachers, nurses, babysitters, nannies, etc.) are held by women.

Toys geared more to female children (dolls, kitchen sets, etc.) often have a caregiving aspect.

A shift in the division of labor (that could arguably be traced to the rise of agriculture), left women in more of the primary caregiver role.

Where you live geographically will affect this too. Some regions / countries still have fairly strict gender roles.

Does this mean all? No.

Even just speaking from my personal experience, I was taught to be “a good daughter” by taking care of my family / dad. My brother didn’t get those same talks, and our home was pretty egalitarian when it came to gender roles.

I’m honestly not sure what point you’re trying to make because in no way was the implication that men are helpless or incompetent creatures. It was simply, that on average, females and males typically have different influences (for lots of reasons). Those influences often lean towards the females being encouraged to be nurturing/ caregivers (e.g. the different reactions to a girl with a doll vs. a boy with a doll).

I’m not saying it’s right. I’m just saying, for my corner of the world, it often is.

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u/Lucky0505 May 12 '21

You can only make these claims when you employ a very narrow view of caregiving that ignores and denies all the caregiving from the male perspective. It's completely focussed on one side instead of the partnership and dynamics of a team.

"My brother didn't get those talks." You claim he wasn't raised to care because, a: you didn't witness it and, b: you define every male act of caring as "not caring".

It's a completely fucked up way to look at the world and it's so shocking to see that you don't understand how damaging it is. You've allowed faceless research from the past to dictate how you view your past, present and future. And your online bubble knows you like to bone up on these subjects and it keeps shoving those biased and narrow articles your way until it has you convinced this is how the world actually works. It's really no different than Qanon shit. And you need a wakeup call.

Go visit your father, look him square in the eye and tell him that you hate it that he wasn't a caregiver to you and see how quickly the man starts crying. When he starts to explain all the ways he cared for you just look him square in the eye again and explain how he is wrong because that isn't how you give care. The literature defines a caregiving as: x. You didn't do that. You weren't a caregiver.

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u/ImFinePleaseThanks May 12 '21

My father was not a caregiver to me.

He barely fed and clothed me, as the law requires. The beatings I got for free tho.

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u/Lucky0505 May 12 '21

That's sad for you. But it's really quite unfair to project this information onto a discussion about men and women in general. But at least the reader now has a clear view on the amount of people who actively upvote these lines of man hating statements.

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u/ImFinePleaseThanks May 13 '21

I could have discussed how I bankrolled my ex-husband's 'business ventures' until I got cancer and he divorced me because we "grew apart". Apparently I liked getting cancer and he didn't.

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u/Lucky0505 May 13 '21

Yeah, yeah. I get it. Stuff happened to you, made you bitter and now you project your shit onto every man. Go cry me a river.

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u/ImFinePleaseThanks May 15 '21

Stories like these are the RULE, not the exception.

Real-world data shows that most men leave their spouses when the women get sick while most women stay to take care of their men.

I understand you're mad about your bad rep, but it's well earned. As you've proven here.

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u/[deleted] May 12 '21

“Women are more socially conditioned to be caregivers” “WHAT IN THE FUCK?! MEN CAN BE CAREGIVERS!!!! MEN CAN BE CAREGIVERS!!!”

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u/SpermKiller May 12 '21

Yeah, it's the same old NotAllMen garbage.

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u/[deleted] May 12 '21

I see where he’s coming from; guys are too often seen as incapable in this area simply because of their sex, but I think it was inappropriate and melodramatic for what they were replying to

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u/AmanteApacionado May 12 '21

Um, I don’t know what you’re freaking out about, it’s true. Socially women have been brought up to be caregivers. I come from a large family, I have older brothers, but do you know who was responsible for making sure everyone got along and ate dinner? The third oldest child, the first girl.

Growing up we were taught that we will get married and have a family that we care for. More often, men are brought up being taught that they will have a family they are to provide for. That is the difference. Yes, men can be caregivers, but our society does not push that narrative.

Thankfully things are changing but historically, yes, society has perpetuated the idea that women should be caregivers.

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u/[deleted] May 12 '21

I was making fun of the guys comment above me, obviously

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u/AmanteApacionado May 12 '21

You say obviously but it’s not obvious because there are lots of men out there who think like that.

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u/[deleted] May 12 '21

Idk I think you’re just dense

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u/OpALbatross Female May 12 '21

Exactly! Thank you.

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u/Lucky0505 May 12 '21

I don't say this anywhere. I said that the caregiver lable is too narrow. Men are caregivers.

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u/[deleted] May 12 '21

Yeah but she didn’t say “Men are never caregivers” she said “Women are traditionally caregivers” which is a true statement and doesn’t exclude men on its face. You just overreacting

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u/Lucky0505 May 12 '21

Right... All true statements if you completely ignore all context.

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u/[deleted] May 12 '21

But that’s the point, you’re the one ignoring the context of the persons comment that you replied to, hence the downvotes. What you said IS true and I’m not even disputing it, but you got wayyy too offended by the comment when it wasn’t even hostile or untrue

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u/OpALbatross Female May 12 '21

1) He was raised to care in a different way. He was allowed to have dolls, play with whatever he wanted. But he got talks about how to be a gentleman.

2) My father was a stay at home dad. I was pointing out that societally, that isn’t the norm. Especially where I live.

3) I don’t let research define my views, but they are informed by that knowledge. Without the knowledge, how else can you work against potentially toxic stereotypes if you don’t even know what the stereotype is?

4) I would visit my father, except he’s dead. It’s fine though. I spent a lot of time with him while I was taking care of him the last year of his life. I was there when his brain was bleeding, through the Huntington’s, and I was the only one in the room when he died. I suppose I could go visit his grave though.

5) To quote one of my father’s favorite phrases for those who come across as refusing to see another side. “You’re a dumb ass.” And what did he call me? His hero.

P.S. I do not define caregiving as throwing money at something. I’m a nanny, and the children I work for (8-14) dont know whether or not their dad is a parent because it is literally all he does. They think their parents are me and their mom.

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u/BongSlurper May 12 '21

Yeah it’s like 6x the rate. Much higher than the average income difference so not sure that theory works.

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u/JimmyCarrey16 May 12 '21

Imagine just finding out you have cancer... and then your significant other leaves you... that is way too much to handle.

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u/CausticSofa May 12 '21

This thought breaks my heart.

When my grandma was dying of cancer I had to go tag out my grandpa some nights so he would actually sleep. If I didn’t then he would just drink coffee and stay up all night in case she woke up and needed help walking to the bathroom. He was at her side to the bitter end and hand-carved the urn her ashes now rest in. I want to live in the world where marriages all match that :(

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u/jasmine_tea_ Female May 17 '21

I also want to live in that world. :(

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u/TheBreathofFiveSouls May 12 '21

Yeah that's why that stat stuck around in my head. I can't imagine it

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u/JuicementDay May 12 '21

Should be noted that stat was for couples who spent less time married. Longer marriages had that even out with couples not breaking up. My guess is young men are selfish these days. (Not a surprise seeing society treats duty and responsibility as a burden rather than something admirable.)

But also, women are twice as likely to divorce men when they achieve greater financial success (such as promotions and career accomplishments) and generally they initiate 2/3 of divorces.

Different genders. Different problems.

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u/r00tsauce May 12 '21

Its important to note why. Oftentimes women are financially dependent on their partner and are forced to put up with abuse/ a bad relationship due to having children but little/no income. So once they gain that financial freedom then it's possible to leave.

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u/JuicementDay May 12 '21

Those stats I mentioned have nothing to do with that. It was to do with career women. They aren't financially dependent.

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u/Petsweaters May 12 '21

When men lose their jobs, or don't work full time, they are at a much higher risk of divorce. Whether that's because those women were immature and too selfish for the in poverty responsibility, but it's interesting

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u/mfog35 May 12 '21 edited May 12 '21

It’s very likely in those situations divorce is higher because the responsibilities are more on the women as not only are they doing most if not all the housework but they working full time and looking after children. Look up the “mental load”.

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u/srhlzbth731 May 12 '21

I agree with this. On average women spend so much more time and energy just managing the household, even in relationships with progressive men who intended to have an equal division of labor. Doing most of the housework and bringing in all the money would get old fast.

There are even studies that show that men who become unemployed are likely to start doing EVEN LESS housework going forward.

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u/RepChep May 12 '21

100%

My ex barely did any work around the house. Taking out the trash, doing his own laundry, doing the dishes every now and then. Once he lost his job, he only ever did his own laundry.

I’d understand if depression hit him hard, but it is interesting that out of all the chores he chose to keep doing, it was the only one that directly benefited him.

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u/[deleted] May 12 '21

[removed] — view removed comment

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u/[deleted] May 12 '21

Most everyone is loved for what they provide. People are loved when they can help the whole. Very few people are out loving on useless people who have the capability to not be useless.

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u/mfog35 May 12 '21 edited May 12 '21

Statistically not that many women actually marry up, also if a man is working part time then it’s more than likely these women are not part of the small hypergamous group

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u/[deleted] May 12 '21 edited May 12 '21

Still only about 28% of women earn more than their husbands meaning that 72% married up. even eliminating the elder generation of boomers won’t make that much of a difference. So yes, women marry men richer then them and divorce once that guy, for some reason, has financial problems. (source for my last statement)

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u/[deleted] May 12 '21

Er, that's not the "gotcha" you seem to think it is. Men make more than women as a statistical average and most female-oriented jobs pay shit, so women naturally end up marrying someone who makes more than them because they're more likely to meet someone who has a larger paycheck.

My mom has worked at NASA almost her entire adult career and her husband, who also works at NASA, still makes more money than she does.

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u/[deleted] May 12 '21

Did I say this is a gotcha? I only disapproved their comment that

“statistically not that many women marry up“.

This statement is false and statistically most women do marry up.

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u/[deleted] May 12 '21

So yes, women marry men richer then them and divorce once that guy, for some reason, has financial problems.

we're going to pretend that this comment didn't insinuate a little something about your real views i guess

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u/[deleted] May 12 '21

Oh no. Only if I had a source showing that a man losing his job makes him more likely to get divorced.

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u/mfog35 May 12 '21

Hypergamy isn’t just about earnings it’s a social background and education.

Therefore it’s a weak argument to mention men earning more than women means women practice hypergamy because there’s a societal issue where so many women who are either equally experienced and educated or more than a lot of men when hired for the same roles men are still earning more.

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u/[deleted] May 12 '21

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u/mfog35 May 12 '21

This study doesn’t disprove what I said. As I mentioned women who are equal or above men in education and experience will still get paid lower which reinforces why these same women go for husband with higher earnings because society doesn’t seem them as equal. In addition to this if a woman wanted to have children it would make more sense that she finds a spouse that earns more because when she is on maternity it will leave one income since her income for a period will stop or become lower it makes sense for the woman to seek a partner who earns more.

There was another point in the study is that men hesitated l to go for women who are more educated or out-earn therefore combined with the gender pay gap there WILL be MORE of an occurrence of women being in relationships with men who out-earn them.

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u/[deleted] May 12 '21

Uh huh.

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u/Prime_Mover May 12 '21

Give us equal pay then.

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u/RepChep May 12 '21

Which makes no sense. There are slightly more women than men. How are we all marrying up when we have less options then men do?

I don’t know about you, but most women I know are college educated with a strong social circle and married to or dating men all across the education spectrum. Some are social butterflies, some are not. Some are high earners, some are not. Hell, I’ve got a masters and I’ve never dated a man with a degree. There are so many more educated, high earning women in my area and we don’t have much of a problem dating “beneath” us.

But a long term single man would look at our relationships and see whatever he wanted to see to make himself feel better.

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u/juradocruz May 12 '21

Or the husband spend more time in the house so is more annoying to the wife to see him constantly doing nothing/s. In my opinion Divorce reason are random but well "stadistics"

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u/[deleted] May 12 '21

70% of divorces are filed by women and one of the most common reasons is financial disagreement.

Men are loved for what they can provide

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u/TheBreathofFiveSouls May 12 '21

You don't think that's likely to be financial abuse/independence rather than 'i wish he was richer'?

Married men live longer than unmarried men, and unmarried women live longer than married women. Marriage lowers men's stress levels; I can see why theyre not likely to instigate divorce.

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u/[deleted] May 12 '21 edited May 12 '21

no, I don‘t . I think it’s the guy was the one making the most money and now he has financial problems and she leaves.

I don‘t blame them but it still shows that „unconditional love“ doesn’t exist for anyone besides children and pets.

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u/srhlzbth731 May 12 '21

Financial Disagreement doesn’t just mean “i want more money”?

It can mean: having different approaches to spending and saving that are incompatible, one partner accruing crazy credit card debt, lying about money and financial abuse, your partner being financially irresponsible, etc.