The New York Times, noting that one in four divorces in the United States today involves people over 50, has launched a new series called “Unhitched” that features couples’ divorce stories and related columns from counselors. In one recent article from the series, a Pennsylvania couple unflinchingly shares the story of their marriage and divorce, including advice on how to handle the divorce based on their experience.
The New York Times, as part of its Booming series on this segment of the population, felt it necessary to include stories of divorced couples alongside a more established series on couples who have been married at least 25 years. It’s a brave and justified stance for the paper to take — it’s important, given the reality of how many marriages end in divorce, and how divorce is a change but not necessarily the end of a relationship between two people. It’s helpful to see how couples cope with the divorce experience through their personal and unique stories, and it’s admirable that the New York Times is allowing couples to share those stories.