Our Turn: The Good News about Women and Divorce

Rather than collapse in despair, 82% of 350 middle-aged, white, middle-class divorced women involved in this study were found to ``thrive'' on divorce, spurred to forge rewarding, new professional and emotional lives. Examples cited in this national survey conducted by Hayes, who heads the Master's Program in gerontology at Long Island Univeristy in New York, and research coordinator Anderson, aided by freelance journalist Blau, reveal that these women tapped repressed or dormant inner resources, developed self-confidence and revived or developed relationships with family members and friends. Despite sharply reduced income, they pursued new interests and often discovered professional or sexual fulfillment without a compulsion to remarry. Women facing divorce will find encouraging words and valuable advice here. (May)