Exploring the dynamic links between divorce initiatives and the social landscape

Women frequently initiate divorce, yet their post-divorce experiences are shaped by gender norms and societal expectations surrounding marriage and motherhood. In Israel, where liberal-secular values coexist with familistic and religious norms, initiating divorce may be perceived as a deviation from the social order. This study examines how women who initiate divorce perceive societal attitudes toward themselves and their decision, and how these attitudes shape their post-divorce social position. Drawing on semi-structured in-depth interviews with 38 mostly secular, heterosexual, Jewish-Israeli mothers aged 25–70 who initiated divorce, this thematic analysis revealed five central themes: repositioning in the social arena: loss of belonging and social status; reconfiguring support networks from couple-based ties to alternative sources of support; navigating social norms as part of the complex journey of divorce initiators; the attribution of blame and responsibility to the initiator; and societal attitudes that foster self-blame and weaken the initiator's social confidence. The study demonstrates that stigma and moral judgment directed at women who initiate divorce function as informal sanctions that regulate gender norms, weaken women's social capital in the post-divorce period and sustain patriarchal power relations. The findings highlight the need for supportive frameworks that validate women's autonomy and mitigate post-divorce social exclusion.