Despite the multitude of benefits that can come with divorce, these often seem to get passed over in mainstream media and news, where divorce is portrayed as a negative and undesirable option. In reality, for many couples in Oregon, divorce can be one of the best courses of action to take. In an attempt to show the lighter side of divorce, couples who recently untied the knot took to the Internet with so-called divorce selfies.
Although the trend initially began with a couple who had just filed for divorce, the sensation quickly took hold, and selfies of just-divorced couples began to spread across the Internet. In almost all of them, the ex-spouses are smiling, and many of them are accompanied by captions that reflect their happiness. The rash of pictures actually came as a surprise to many people who had only been presented with the more negative side of divorce.
Despite the overwhelming outpouring of support, there were some who called into question the validity of the happiness portrayed in the images. When prodded for answers as to how divorce could possibly be a good step, one person replied that she and her ex were happy to move forward with their lives. Others echoed this sentiment, while also pointing out that they were looking forward to successful co-parenting without the added aspect of a romantic relationship.
Of course, none of this is to imply that divorces are never difficult or sad events, but displaying both sides of the process is important, especially for those who might be worried about the upcoming process. Even for couples in Oregon who struggled with asset division or the divorce settlement might feel an enormous amount of relief and happiness once the process has finally reached an agreeable conclusion. Much of that happiness might be credited to a sense of optimism for the future.
Source: journalgazette.net, “Friendly couples redefining divorce with selfies“, Caitlin Dewey, Sept. 10, 2015
