Marrying A Divorced Woman In India – What Men Should Know!

Marrying a divorced woman is a big challenge in India

The idea of marrying a divorced woman in India is riddled with social stigmas! While it is true that divorced women do get married in India, the ground reality is that not too many single men prefer marrying a divorced woman in India. Since there are so many social stigmas and family pressure attached to divorce, men prefer to take the easy way out.

Take for example the matrimony section in any newspaper. Out of the hundreds of matrimony ads, you will be hard pressed to find one divorcee looking to remarry or single men openly declaring that they are open to marrying a divorcee. Just goes to show that the idea of a divorced woman getting remarried is still not done through traditional means such as arranged marriages.

And this is just the tip of the iceberg.

Divorce rates are still very low in India when compared to the western countries. According to Stephanie Coontz, the director of research and public education for the Council on Contemporary Families, arranged marriages in many countries are often associated with the lack of choice for young people and are often repressive to women.

Arranged marriages in India might be more stable, however, it is in no way a measure of success as social pressures and stigma associated with divorces force people to live through an unhappy marriage.

Although middle-class women are taking charge, in rural India, it is mostly men who initiate most divorce or leaving their wives and children to fend for themselves. Poor women in rural India are just abandoned by men and have very little chances of remarriage because of the rules of their caste.

When should you file for a divorce? Check out this short video

Things are changing!

However, it’s not all gloom and doom.

The divorce rates in urban India have doubled in the last five years (Yes, sometimes bad things are actually good!).

The reason divorce rates are increasing is that educated Indian women now have an option. “Women don’t want to lie down and take it anymore,” says Julie George, a Pune-based lawyer in matrimonial cases. “There is a lot more independence, freedom. Women who work are financially independent and aren’t prepared to put up with a husband who harasses them.”

Because most of the online matrimonial websites are targeted towards 20 somethings and people marrying for the first time, a niche website targeting divorcees was the missing piece in the puzzle. Secondshaadi.com does just that. It targets divorced people around India and helps them remarry.

Marrying a divorced woman — Divorced women do get married.

Divorce is not the end for women, the story goes on…

Divorce doesn’t mean the end of the world to the modern Indian women. They are very much open to the idea of remarriage and are willing to start afresh.

Let us glimpse through three key reasons why divorced women in India are embracing marriage the second time.

1. Sparks flying all over again

What better reason than love for marrying again! The modern Indian woman is free of inhibitions and is ready to go out there and take the plunge all over again. She is open to meeting new people, making new friends and getting emotionally involved, all of which often leads her to find the love of her life once again.

2. A shoulder to lean on

Divorce takes an adverse toll on the woman’s health, both mentally and physically. Remarrying gives women a chance to restore their emotional stability and get some normalcy back into their lives.

3. Money makes the world go round

Financial stability is yet another reason why women remarry. Having income coming from two sources is definitely better than one. It greatly improves the standard of living, even more so if the woman is with a child from the earlier marriage.

Why Indian women divorce and what men can learn?

If you are open to marrying a divorced woman or even if you think it’s not for you, understanding why women in India divorce will help you understand their perspective better. Who knows, you may actually change your opinion about marrying a divorced woman after all!

Second Marriage — Planning on a second marriage? Read our in-depth guide.

1. Increasing opportunities to be financially independent

Women in India are better educated and more career-oriented than ever before. Women are now more independent and financially secure in their own rights. Therefore, women, these days are more empowered to leave marriages that make them miserable.

Men, take note. Women like to do more than just be a housewife. More and more women like to work and have a career that they can be proud of, just like you. Take pride in helping them achieve their career goals.

2. Saying ‘NO’ to gender-specific roles

India, being a country where gender categorization is still prevalent, women feel stuck doing household chores, especially if there is no help from her husband.

Mahua, an IT executive, says, He would expect me to get home from work and cook for him while he watched television. I was revolted at the idea of me toiling while he put his feet up.

Getting cooped up in gender-specific roles is a big no for the Indian woman today. Issues pertaining to the gender-specific role assigned to women often paves the way for a divorce.

Marriage is an equal responsibility. It takes effort from both sides to work out a marriage. Don’t just sit there and let her do all the work. Don’t be a burden, help her out instead. Take charge and share responsibilities.

3. Cheating!

Let’s face it, one of the major reasons why women file for divorce is because of adultery. As women are becoming increasingly empowered, they don’t want to be in a relationship where they are not being appreciated. They would rather go solo.

Remember men, adultery causes a major blow to any relationship. The feelings of compassion, love, and all things that built a relationship disappear and all that is left are guilt and anger. Do yourself and your relationship a favour, never cheat.

Failed marriages provide a great opportunity to learn not only for the divorcee but also for the man who is marrying a divorced woman. It forces you to come to terms with your shortcomings and who you are as a person. It forces you to take charge and start working on the traits of your personality that you want to change.

What you should know before marrying a divorced woman

Via Royal Challenger's Flickr Stream — Via Royal Challenger’s Flickr Stream

India is still a largely patriarchal country. Although women in this country are breaking new ground every day, the problem of male dominance is still prevalent in India. In most situations, men get off with a slap on the wrist while the women are publicly shamed. This transcends to divorce cases as well.

If you are open to marrying a divorced woman, just remember that she has many fine qualities that are shaped by her experiences. Here are a few things that you should know about before marrying a divorced woman.

1. Finding joy in less is an art

Divorced women don’t have it easy. Living conditions plummet because the available money is halved and the expenses rise.

Let’s take the case of Jyoti Chatterjee. When her husband decided to leave and live in with his mistress, she did have the means to survive. However, there were a lot of things that she could not afford. Holidays or necessities like an air conditioner became a luxury.

She says, “None of them necessities, considering I had enough money to put food on the table. But…at a time of emotional turmoil like a divorce, one can do with some creature comforts to cheer oneself up”.

Divorced women end up mastering the art of finding less expensive ways to lead their lives and strive a bit harder to earn more. These are fine qualities indeed!

2. Managing both work and child takes a lot

Divorce can be pretty rough on a child. When a couple with a child files for a divorce, the child’s world falls apart because of the two people whom he/she loves the most do not love each other anymore. This makes the child, who is scared, rebellious, angry and probably depressed, act out his emotions. This is the time when a child needs all the attention from the parent.

A divorced woman with a child has to bear additional responsibilities and play multiple roles. Doing the grind; performing well in the office, doing household chores and simultaneously taking care of the child. Managing all this and still coming out on top is what makes these women worth it.

3. Ability to overcome social stigma

Although the stigma related to divorce in India has waned considerably, it is still prevalent. Divorced women are still looked down upon, sometimes by their own family members. A divorced woman effectively becomes a social pariah, and she is not welcome by her own friends and family members.

However, all this hate actually helps a woman find her true self and push her to become better in her own right and start living life on her own terms. As you can see a divorced woman is no pushover!

Divorcee matrimony profiles — Read sample divorcee matrimonial profiles

4. Mental toughness

Divorce breaks a person. It takes a lot of effort and willpower to get back up and continue living life. There are times, after a divorce, during which a woman might suffer from severe episodes of depression.

However, with time, even the blackest of days turn into distant memories. A woman, who goes through such a difficult phase in her life, turns out to be stronger and more independent.

5. She has her side of the story as well

People in India have this absurd notion that divorced women are damaged goods and that they should not get married again. They have a preconceived notion that if a woman is divorced, there is something wrong with her.

Randomly jumping on to conclusions helps no one. There are two sides to every coin. It is important to know both sides of the story before arriving at any conclusion. In reality, there are no damaged goods, only damaged expectations.

6. She is not a burden to the society

Indian society largely views divorced and separated women as outcasts and treats them harshly. Divorced women are looked upon with disgrace and are a harassed lot.

It so happens that the people who were thought to be a woman’s friends start distancing themselves from the woman. Married friends don’t know what to do with them and the dinner invitations dry up.

Single friends are much better in this regard as fewer of them disappear. A woman having common friends with her husband might have to deal with the friends choosing sides and lining up with her husband instead of her.

7. Learn how to deal with stepchildren

The possibility of having stepchildren is very real when marrying a divorced woman. If you are marrying a divorced woman with a child, it is important to give the stepchild time and space to grieve. Include the stepchildren in the household chores so that they feel like a part of the family.

It is important to maintain a steady friendship with your stepchildren. Don’t rush into it, give them some time to open up to you. Remember, communication is the key to having a fulfilling relationship with your stepchildren.

The relationship between a stepparent and a stepchild is definitely challenging. However, if you are marrying a divorced woman with kids in tow, it is essential you learn how to build a lasting relationship with the stepchildren for the long-term happiness and security of your new family.

Conclusion

A divorced woman goes through a lot. From social stigmas to financial troubles to loneliness and much more. All a divorced woman wants is your understanding and your support. Take responsibility, share her load and make her feel as loved as possible. If she has a child from her previous marriage, make the child feel at home and as comfortable as possible. Make your house as harmonious as possible by caring for the ones you love. Make all possible efforts for her to open up to you and make her feel safe and secure.

Do the right thing

Given that the divorce rates have gone up in India in recent times, its only a matter of time before marrying a divorcee becomes a non-issue. After all “Inside your soul is the ability to survive even the toughest storms, and that paradise can always be found–even in the middle of a hurricane–if you are willing to look”.

Marrying a divorced woman is not a sin. Don’t jump to conclusions or cave into the societal pressures. Do the right thing!

Marrying A Divorced Woman In India – What Men Should Know!