"SOCIAL AJUSTMENT ISSUSE OF DIVORCED WOMENABSTRACTDivorce defines as “the dissolution of a marriage, normally permitting each partyto remarry” (Christopher, 1999). Social adjustment after divorce refers toresettlement of an individual in the society after being divorced and resettlementis in terms of economic empowerment and decision making by her. The currentstudy was investigating the problems faced by divorced women and to figure outthe social adjustment issues of divorced women. Social adjustment issues ofdivorced women were studied with the sample of 3 case studies of Muslimdivorced women who were resided in different areas of Rawalpindi and Pakistan.Case study technique was used based on grounded theory. It is concluded fromover all findings of this study that divorce effects on women in every spheres oftheir lives. It impacts on them negatively. Society sees them as stigmatizedpersonality and criticizes them without knowing that whether they are guilty fortheir marriage termination or not. She feels herself alien and these thoughts puther under grave of psychological stress and social alienation. In this phase, whenshe goes through from this disturbance, she needs support. Society needs tounderstand the problems of divorcees rather than to criticizes her and blamingher on her marriage termination. So there is need for awareness and change inthe minds of people to do not stress her, understand her condition and mustencourage her to begin her life again. The increased awareness of society in thisregard will ensure the health of the victimized individuals and the society at large.Keywords: marriage, divorce, social adjustment, society INTRODUCTIONThe current study was investigating the problems faced by divorced women and tofigure out the social adjustment issues of divorced women. Social adjustment issues ofdivorced women were studied with the sample of 3 case studies of Muslim divorcedwomen who were resided in different areas of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, Pakistan.Divorce defines as “the dissolution of a marriage, normally permitting each party toremarry” (Christopher, 1999). Legally, divorce refers to a specific event, a court rulingthat dissolves the conditions agreed on in a legalized marriage (Worell, 2001). Socialadjustment refers to resettlement of an individual in the society after being divorced andresettlement is in terms of economic empowerment and decision making by her.Case study technique was used based on grounded theory. In a study of family life,however, divorce is better conceptualized as a process of transitions in a familyrelationship (Worell, 2001). For example, in 1991 Andrew charlin and colleaguesreported results from longitudinal research on more than 17,000 families in the UnitedStates and Britain, showing that much of the distress observed after divorce actuallybegins years prior to the divorce. In addition, results from the Virginia Longitudinal studyof divorce, conducted by E. Mavis Hetherington and colleagues, suggest thatdisruptions in the family life continue for several years after the divorce event (Worell,2001).Main focus of the study was on social adjustment of divorced women and their strategyof tackling problem and adjusts themselves in society as a normal person. It wasintended to see that whether they are supported by their families and society afterdivorce or not.In Islam, if men have power to divorce his wife then women has also right to get divorce.A divorce deed obtained by wife against her husband is known as “khula”. Khula meansto take off. According to Shariah: It consists in destroying the Milk-i-Nikah or ownershipofmarriage, with the consent and acceptance of the wife by the use of the word khula’or whatis the same as of the word (Khan, 2007).In our society, the concept of divorce is far removed from what Islam, tells us about it.Allah hates divorce, says the Quran. Divorce, according to Islam, is not an act ofrevenge or hatred that it has become in our society. The after effects of divorce on awoman especially, are devasting. Divorce is almost always considering woman’s faultand even in the west the woman is held mainly responsible for the failure of a marriage.The social stigma of being a divorcee impacts women in all spheres of life, making itan uphill struggle to lead a life of dignity and honor. The custody of children after theparents have divorced is also a thorny issue (Jallendhary, 2001).As cited by Kumar(2006) at one side it is relief for bettered and distressed women but on the other sidethe stigma is attached to divorced women.A decade later, however, the divorcedwomen reported 37% more physical illness. Women in the study ranging from thecommon cold and sore throat to heart conditions and cancer (Lorentezen, 2006).The traumatic effect of divorce is usually greater than that of death because of the bitterness and emotional tensions and also the social attitude towards divorce. In manywomen, feelings of guilt, shame, dislike ness, anger and anxiety about the future areso dominant that they bring about personality changes. There social lives are limitedmainly to relatives and friends of the same sex. They also face social disgrace (Ratra,Kaur & Chhikara, 2006).There is little room for failure in a marriage in the social norm network. There isconsiderable stigma associated with divorce; families do not want shame and dishonorinflict upon them by society. Parents therefore insist on women enduring a poormarriage rather than get a divorce (Qadir, Silva, Prince, & Khan, 2005).RESEARCH METHODOLOGYFor qualitative research in-depth interview guideline was used in order to see that howwomen coped with their marital or personal adjustment problems after divorce and howthey adjust themselves in society. A purposive sample ( 3 case studies) of Muslimdivorced women was taken. In sample size, the age limit of respondents was notspecified. Non probability snowball sampling technique was used for selecting samplebecause only those participants were taken who fulfilled the criteria and theme of theresearch.DISCUSSIONPresent study was intended to see the social adjustment of divorced women, the studywas also focused on their problems which they faced after divorce and it wasendeavored to whether these women supported by their families or not and what kindof behavior they faced by their families as well as society.Many respondents were divorced by their spouses. Few respondents had taken it onmany reasons. Reasons behind their divorce were that their spouses were remarriedor having another wife, suspiciousness, sterile ness of respondent, infidelity of ex- spouse, problem with in laws were the common causes of marriage termination ofrespondents.It was also noticed that there is a link between the higher number of physical illnessesand the different stresses associated with divorce, including financial problems,demotions and parenting problems. It was added that divorced women have fewersupport systems. The women also suffer stress from having to make changes inhousing, insurance, transportation and time with children (Lorentezen, 2006). It wasnoticed that it looks like (divorced women) are trapped in this vicious circle of financialproblems and other stressful life events. Divorce is considered to be an issue religiously and socially. Unlikely there are so manypeople who effect badly due to divorce. Not only husband and wife suffer but also theirchildren usually forced to choose one sided and lose a parent. Communication problemswere most often mentioned as primary cause. The second and the third most frequentreasons were basic unhappiness and incompatibility. Divorce brings along other problems and issues. These are psychiatric, physical andeconomic issues. Attitude towards the divorced women of relative and neighbored areharsh and discriminative. Respondents also faced verbal torture, prejudice and criticism.They feel socially isolated and do not meet to any relatives or neighbor.Many respondents mentioned education as source to deal their matters by themselves.Many respondents stated that if they were well educated they would earn their ownincome and would not become a burden on their families and may not remarry. On theother hand those respondents who were well educated they mentioned that they werefind education as a best source to relying on themselves and not to become burden onany one.Majority of the respondents tackled all problems with the help of their families. Fewwere not supported by their families. Majority of them remarried and now sociallyadjusted, some were engaged themselves in their jobs and ignored their attitude andsome said that with the passage of time their negative attitude became decrease.CONCLUSIONIt is conclude that divorced women effects in any sphere of the life. It impact on themnegatively.Society see them as stigmatize personality and criticize, use harsh word towards them.Society condemn her and raise their fingers on her. They consider fault of her divorceand their criticize s hurdle in the way of their social adjustment. She feels isolated andthese thoughts put her under psychological depression, social alienation and stress.In the phase of his disturbance she needs support. She can survive if he family supporther socially, morally and economical. Society need to understand the problems ofdivorce women rather than to criticize her or blaming her. So there is need to changethe mind of people, do not stress her, understand her problem and encourage her tobegin her life again. REFERENCES[1] Asif. M. (2006). Psychological reaction todivorce ofdivorced women and theirchildren.Retrieved March 23, 2009, from http://eprints.hec.gov.pk[2] Beauchamp, C. (2003). Causes and Effects of Divorce. International encyclopedia ofsociology, 1, 243-251.[3] Christopher, A. (1999). Religion and the Law: A Dictionary. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO.[4] Cohen, O., & Savaya, R. (2003). LifestyleDifferencesinTraditionalismandModernityand Reasons for Divorce among Muslim Palestinian Citizens of Israel. 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