Why Midlife Divorce Is Rising and How Women Decide Whether to Stay or Go

Divorce rates are not exploding, but they are shifting.

Sue Moss explains on The Tamsen Show that more women are leaving marriages later in life because circumstances have changed. People live longer, society is more accepting of older divorce, and women are asking a harder question, “If I’m unhappy now, can I stay unhappy for decades?”

Sue Moss is careful not to blame menopause or midlife transitions. She observes correlation, not causation. What changes during this stage is perspective as women reassess health, time, and emotional cost. They evaluate whether staying is survival or stagnation.

She also addresses a critical financial reality. Long-term or permanent spousal support has largely disappeared in most states. Courts increasingly expect the non-earning spouse to return to work, even after long marriages. That shift makes preparation essential.

One of the most difficult decisions involves children. Sue Moss explains that staying “for the kids” can unintentionally teach them that disrespect or abuse is normal. Children absorb relationship models and sometimes leaving protects them more than staying.

She also describes how emotional abuse often escalates quietly over years. Women rationalize behavior, minimize harm, and carry guilt that does not belong to them. This is why she cautions against mediation in cases involving domestic violence, hidden assets, chronic guilt, or power imbalances.

Sue Moss reminds listeners that divorce is a process with a beginning, middle, and end. Even the most painful cases conclude. The goal is not punishment, it is a better life on the other side.

If you want to learn more, listen to this full conversation on The Tamsen Show.