Joel Bernheim Calls for Fairness in Divorce Courts

NEW YORK, NY, May 24, 2012

Divorce laws can vary greatly from one state to the next, but one thing that has long remained consistent is the fact that, in most divorce cases, conventional gender roles are strongly upheld, particularly when children are in the picture. Historically, it has typically been the father who ends up paying alimony and child support to the mother, who often gets custody of the children. A recent report finds that this might be changing, however. According to a new study, reported by Reuters, more women are paying child support and alimony to their ex-husbands than ever before. According to Reuters, this societal change mirrors ever-shifting understandings of marriage and of gender. Meanwhile, advocates and activists such as Joel Bernheim say that this change is a long time in coming, and that it signals a gradual move toward fairer divorce rulings.

The Reuters report says that this change in alimony rulings reflects the fact that women are earning higher salaries all the time--and that many are out-earning their ex-husbands. It is their increased level of income that has led many women to face higher alimony payments.

The report suggests that many women are less than thrilled with this development, but Joel Bernheim, an advocate on behalf of the father's rights movement, says fair is fair. In a new statement to the press, Bernheim observes, "It is ironic that, as stated in this article, 'we see women who are every bit as angry as their male counterparts, maybe more so, when they are confronted with the concept of paying spousal support to a man.' For so many years there was no empathy from the courts or society with respect to fathers who were financially devastated by divorce. Oftentimes, the quality of life for the divorced/custodial parent was maintained to the detriment of the father/non-custodial parent."

Joel Bernheim continues by saying the article "is also correct in that 'it shows that women have really moved up financially and that in many instances they are the major bread winners in a lot of families.'" Ultimately, Bernheim's hope is not that mothers are forced to pay more than their fair share, but simply that divorce courts act with greater fairness, and greater consideration for the ramifications a divorce has on fathers.

"My hope is that the judicial system will wake up, and revisit and refine much of the outdated legislation currently in use, as well as further adjust their gender bias in matters of support, custody and father's rights," he explains.

Joel Bernheim is a long-time supporter of the father's rights movement, which simply seeks to ensure that divorce rulings are not influenced by historic gender bias against fathers.

ABOUT:

Joel Bernheim is a professional within the asset receivables management industry, and currently serves as Executive Vice-President of Operations at the Illinois Company Asset Recovery Solutions, LLC. He is also an outspoken activist and philanthropist, with much of his activism centered on the father's rights movement. His support of this movement stems from his own experiences as a single father.