How Role-Blurring Can Ruin a Marriage
Adults are versatile creatures who often take on multiple roles. We’re not talking about a theater play, although it certainly can feel like one at times as we take on the part of not only a mother and wife, but also a sister, friend, employee, employer, and neighbor.
Each role demands time, effort, and emotional labor. And sometimes the lines blur, causing frustration and exhaustion.
While some men do multitask, it’s not a surprise that women are the ones taking on the majority of the load, both at home and at work. Women want to prove that they can do it all, and it’s causing them to become seriously overwhelmed.
Role-blurring can happen in many ways, but it is primarily due to the rise of remote work, smartphones, and constant connectivity. We’re expected to be available 24/7, and this is causing lines to be blurred.
Work and personal tasks are often done at the same time, all in the name of being efficient. However, this efficiency is harming marriage.
Role-blurring has become normalized but it’s not harmless. It’s causing a negative impact, especially to women. Women tend to be the ones thinking about what needs to get done and how to keep things running smoothly. They are also often the one to plan date nights, initiate conversations, and pretty much remember everything.
Women who blur their roles become so mentally and emotionally preoccupied with home and family responsibilities while at work that they are experiencing symptoms of severe anxiety and depression. Over time, this emotional distress spills over into their marriages and decreases satisfaction and connection.
The effects of role-blurring slowly build up and begin to show up in relationships as:
- Arguing more frequently.
- Mental withdrawal.
- Increased frustration and irritability.
- Reduced patience and optimism.
- Fewer moments of shared joy.
- Lesser energy for intimacy.
When their spouses don’t contribute, women can experience burnout, irritability, and resentment. This can lead to divorce.
Keep in mind that women are much more likely than men to initiate divorce. They are also much less likely to remarry. That’s because single women experience more freedom and more time for themselves.
Don’t let role blurring and the invisible load go unaddressed. Identify it and make changes now to ease the pressure and rekindle a sense of partnership. After all, a healthy marriage shouldn’t feel like a second job. It should feel like a shared life, not one where one person is taking care of everyone.
Seek Legal Help
Today’s society can be especially hard on women. It seems as though women are taking on more and more tasks while some men are doing less and expecting more.
When women shoulder the majority of the labor, it can lead to resentment. When couples don’t ease the burden, the marriage can be negatively impacted. Get the legal help you need from Fort Lauderdale divorce lawyer Edward J. Jennings, P.A. Count on our lawyers to be in your corner during Florida divorce proceedings. Schedule a consultation with our office today. Call 954-764-4330 or fill out the online form.
Source:
psychologytoday.com/us/blog/social-instincts/202506/the-hidden-dangers-of-role-blurring-in-marriage
