Alexandra M. Geczi

Society traditionally celebrates long marriages. People jealously ask, “What’s your secret?” They assume that the reason for the marriage’s longevity was wedded bliss. However, toxic relationships can be just as powerful when it comes to keeping people together. When it comes to relationships, society tends to value quantity (years together) over quality (happiness together). We don’t celebrate marriages that end in divorce. Instead, we shame and stigmatize people for “destroying” a marriage. We fail to appreciate the courage it takes to walk away. We fail to see that a family can be restructured into something more stable and healthy. We also fail to advocate for the women who are terrified of what waits for them outside the confines of the marriage. Single mothers often earn less and end up struggling to support their children. Women remain uneducated about their finances and the ways they can take control of their lives. Without the support of others, life after divorce can seem more overwhelming and terrifying than the horrible dark place a woman is now. As a result, a woman may choose to suffer the evil she knows rather than venture into the uncertain unknown.