Divorce rates in Brazil have followed a constant increasing trend since their legitimation in December 1977. According to IBGE statistics, in 1995 one out of every four marriages carried out in the last ten years ended in divorce. The general panorama of the country indicates that the total number of divorces grew 55.9% between 1991 and 2002, being that separations increased 30.7% and marriages registered a drop of 4%. Data obtained by IBGE in 2002 indicate that Brazilians repeatedly «recycle» their private life, staying married, on average, for ten and a half years. Regarding the legal aspects, some recent alterations to the Civil Code in Brazil allowed divorce after two years of de facto separation or one year after judicial separation. Another new norm was the end of the prohibition of divorce before the end of the division of property. In addition to this, whoever asks for a divorce without proving the fault of the other does not lose the right to alimony. The new Civil Code allows separation after one year of the marriage.
More than half of the divorced in Brazil continue in the direction of a new union even though there are significant differences between men and women, as we mentioned earlier for the Argentine case. The IBGE indicates that the number of remarriages went from 47 thousand in 1984 to 95 thousand in 2002. Most of the investigations indicate that it is women, predominantly, who enter with the request for divorce. This may be related to multiple factors, although, without a doubt, it runs parallel to the insertion of women in the labor market. This new panorama characterized by high investments in education and new job earnings favored a more independent mentality and less willing to endure an unfavorable marriage.
Brazil also begins to feel the revolution of female participation in the labor market, mainly from the decade of the 70’s. In the 80’s we envision a progressive change in the recruitment of female labor in the labor market with employment of married and adult women – between 30 and 39 years old. According to the work and performance indicators, the growth trend of female participation in the labor market did not stop: the female percentage of the total EAP was 42.5% in 2002, mainly in urban centers and in urban centers. South and Southeast Regions. The greater presence in the labor market of women in adulthood was also confirmed in Brazil.
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