- In 1999, Oklahoma had the second-highest divorce rate ranking in the nation.
- In order to counteract the high divorce rate in the 1990s, many counseling organizations have sprouted in Oklahoma to offer relationship classes and deal with issues involving marital discord. One such counseling organization is the OMI (the Oklahoma Marriage Initiative), which provides marriage education workshops.
- A survey indicated that the highest divorce rates were found in the Bible Belt. Divorce rates in these socially-conservative states are roughly 50 percent above the national average of 4.2 per 1000 people.
- Over 70% of marriages ended in divorce in 2000, according to The Daily Oklahoman.
- According to Fox News: "Oklahoma has 6.7 divorces per 1,000 residents per year, compared with a national rate of 4.6, according to a 1994 government study cited by the Oklahoma Marriage Initiative. Among the reasons given for the high divorce rate: Oklahomans are poor and marry young – two factors that can exert stresses on a marriage. Oklahoma ranked 43rd in per capita income, at $23,517 in 2000. And people in the Bible Belt are said to marry younger because they are more religious and feel compelled to wed before having sex."
- The Oklahoma legislature took a full $10 million out of federal welfare money – money intended to help people stay out of poverty - and spent it on religious marriage counseling.
|
