You do realize that it works both ways right? I know some women who made more money than their husbands and got divorced and they are the ones "getting screwed" by the courts with having to pay spousal support, child support, etc...
Yes, men still usually make more than women but that has been changing rapidly. If you are married to a female breadwinner you are able to take her to the cleaners.
Guys also tend to make mistakes during the divorce process like willfully move out of their house which then puts them behind the eight ball legally.
True statement. Ask me how I know having been the breadwinner supporting a non-working husband for 10 years. The courts look to equalize the disequilibrium when one spouse vastly out earns the other (and the court takes the view that the at home spouse enabled the breadwinner to provide for the family and assigns monetary value to that)….
My husband could have taken me for half of everything. He didn’t, but that was a rather delicate negotiation….he has lived rent free in one of my houses ever since the divorce 8+ years ago. A small price to pay in my mind for him NOT to dismantle me financially…and allowing me to remain financially intact has meant I can continue to pay the freight for college, buy cars for the kids (and pay cash), and help him if he really needs it. It benefited him in the long run in our case.
I spoke to the lawyer/retired judge who handled our divorce recently. She said she had never seen another marriage dissolve in such an agreeable and unconventional way, and she has seen my kids and ex husband benefit as did I.
As some may know I got engaged earlier this year. Really I have zero financial need to be married and there will be no children born to the marriage.
Marriage is about making a public and ceremonial declaration of commitment to your spouse. It is a covenant between two people to make a single unit. It raises the bar and creates obligation (in a good way) that is desired by both parties. It is sacred in my mind and to be taken with the utmost seriousness. It is (as stated in the traditional vows) the forsaking of all others and it is psychicly powerful.
It elevates the commitment level.
But of course the significance of the commitment is only as significant as the quality of character in each partner.
Making choice of who you pick to marry a very important choice indeed.