November 2025 Global Roundup

Recent family related news included a look at: the decline in the rate of marriage in the United States; a rise in the number of single women over 30 deciding to parent on their own; and the phenomenon of the “quiet divorce.” Also in the family news were two clarion calls: one to end child marriage in America and another to have legal fees in a divorce paid for by the moneyed spouse.

Why Do We Allow Child Marriage In America?

Nicholas Kristof, Opinion Columnist, The New York Times, November 1, 2025

In 2018 Delaware became the first state in America to ban all child marriage; Washington, D.C., and 15 more states followed. Other countries have banned child marriage, including Sierra Leone last year and Colombia this year, but here in America the practice remains legal in 34 states. Even as the U.S. government advises other countries to end the cruel practice, at home we preserve what amounts to legally sanctioned statutory rape.

How Women Over 30 Are Rewriting The Single Mom Narrative In America

Pallavi Gogoi, Janet W. Lee, NPR, November, 17, 2025

Today, 40% of all babies in the U.S. are born to unmarried women, a dramatic increase since 1960, when they made up only 5% of births. Increasingly, they are women over 30, and this group has swelled in number by over 140% in the last three decades, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Some reasons for this jump include: women over 30 are more likely to have full-time jobs, more education and earn more, resulting in giving them the power to choose and have agency.

Who Pays Legal Fees In A Divorce?

Patricia Fersch, Forbes, November 21, 2025

In New York, and many other states, there is no set rule on who pays the legal fees in a divorce matter. The author argues that divorce should be fair to both parties at the outset with a mandate for the monied spouse to provide legal fees to the non-monied spouse.

Quiet Divorce: Why People Are Checking Out Of Their Marriage Emotionally – Without Telling Their Partner

The Guardian, Wed 26 Nov 2025

‘Quiet divorce’ is characterized by years of living in a state of deep, resigned unhappiness. It involves lowering your expectations, forging your own separate life, but staying wed - this is considered ‘subconsciously uncoupling’. Reasons cited to not legally end the marriage included maintaining a comfortable routine for yourself and your children and financial stability.

People Still Want To Marry. Why Aren’t They?

Meher Ahmad, Jessica Grose and Glynnis MacNicol, produced by Vishakha Darbha, The New York Times, November 29, 2025

People have been complaining about the travails of coupling for generations, however there seems to be a significant rise of relationship discontent in the cultural zeitgeist. The reporters explored issues behind this phenomenon including: complicated feelings around the renegotiation of traditional gender roles; an outdated notion that the only avenue to happiness and satisfaction is through marriage and motherhood; and the experience of dissatisfaction of using dating apps.