The Rise of the "Silver Divorce:"Older Couples Separating

In June 2010, political couple Al and Tipper Gore formally announced their divorce after 40 years of marriage. This high-profile couple's divorce brought into the public spotlight a growing trend: "silver" divorces, in which couples decide to split apart after 30, 40, or more years of marriage.

Some say this trend reflects unique characteristics of the Baby Boomer generation, which experienced dramatic social upheaval during their lives. Others suggest divorce rates among middle-aged and older couples are a product of changing times.

Either way, we've compiled a few thoughts from leading experts on the factors behind this trend.

The notion of marriage has changed drastically in the past few decades.

First, divorce is far more common today than it was in previous generations. Second, our ideas about marriage and what we can expect from it have changed between the time boomer couples married and today.

"In previous eras, couples soldiered on even if they were very unhappy. But boomers gave up on the concept of the dutiful-but-unhappy spouse a long time ago," writes Dr. Pepper Schwartz for the AARP.

People are living longer than ever.

Married individuals in their 50's and 60's are divorcing and also remarrying, deciding to leave unions they find unfulfilling.

In the past, said Ralph Richard Banks in the New York Times, "a 58-year-old with only a few good years of life to go might decide to tough it out through a less than fulfilling marriage."

Retirement brings drastic lifestyle changes.

Couples may simply not be ready to handle all the changes that come with retirement. With all these changes, the marriage partners may find new priorities, or new resentments can emerge.

"They're blazing a new way to live their lives past 60, and they're figuring it out right now," says Betsey Stevenson in Newsweek.

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