ECONOMIC EFFECTS OF DIVORCE ON SINGLE MINORITY WOMEN LIVING IN THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA
What is the divorce rate in Oklahoma? According to the Oklahoma Marriage Initiative Group (2005), obtaining accurate statistics on divorce rates is difficult in the state because while all counties collect this information, they report it differently and some do not report it to the state at all. Ross (2002) states that, statistically, Oklahoma has one of the highest divorce rates in the country and this rate has not shown a great deal of decrease despite Governor Frank Keating's efforts, when he was Governor, to create the Oklahoma Marriage Initiative.
In particular, Ross (2002) notes that the divorce rate for the state hovers at around 20,000 divorces per year. However, some more recent statistics indicate that over the last decade and a half, there may be a trend in the direction of decline. In this regard, data collected by thee Oklahoma State Department of Health (2005) on divorce stats show at least a small reduction in the number of divorces from 1990 (Total number of divorces in Oklahoma = 24,997) to 2003 (Total number of divorces in Oklahoma = 17, 931).
Finding precise statistics on divorce rates among minorities is difficult for Oklahoma due to the problems with statistical data mentioned prior. However, it can be noted that general statistics for the nation indicate that minority divorce is increasing (Lawson & Sharpe, 2000) which means that any negative effects associated with divorce are likely to be felt by increasing numbers of minority families.
The purpose of this paper is to examine the literature as it relates to the economic impact of divorce on minority women in Oklahoma. The paper also discusses the help available to women who have had negative economic outcomes following divorce as well as precautions they can take to minimize negative effects.
It is important to understand that the economic effects of divor...