Aside from true financial hardship, why do men not feel responsible to support their wife and kids?
337141
I say quit feeling sorry for your self,get off your butt and get a job.There are no guarantees in this life except Death and Taxes. Most men aren't better off financially after a divorce especially if they have to find,rent,buy a new place to live. they also have all the other expenses to pay for; gas,electric,garbage,phone,car payment now add on 25% of his pay to pay for his children from the same pay check as before. You just want to take advantage of the system and your ex-husband. Start a Day Care Center your self. If you work out of your home the state will have to check it out. To get State funds you have to provide a monthly menu and only have the amount of children allowed  based on square feet of your home you have.
135608
Because women are just now (in the last 50 years) starting to aquire stable jobs in the buisness world. Men however, have reached their peak in the buisness world and have their wives to earn a considerable amount of the family income. Therefore, men are able to take more financial risks.
1128618
Imagine 32% of YOUR pay after taxes going to an ex (what I pay).  Imagine that she hasn't worked on a full time payroll in 12 yrs.  Imagine that your sending home $2000-2400/month and your told it isn't enough even though your not only sending that but also paying for half of summer camp and paying for all the dental work out of pocket.....  (we are not talking about alimony... just child support)\n\nI imagine that if you were giving ME 1 out of every 3 dollars you earn after taxes you might have a different view of the money and how it is spent.\n\nIf my ex weren't living on the support I pay for my children I might have a different view, but many women subsidize thier standard of living with the "kids" money.\n\nNow ask yourself why men are the way they are about support...
1050518
Because its simple economics. It is all about getting a return on investment. Plus, if you were married, then it would be fair to say that since that person supported another person, perhaps while they were in college, then I think they deserve compensation, or a future. Bottom line, if you dont intend to share your future with someone supporting you now, it is a poor chioce of character to stay with them for that sole purpose.
1132629
I have read that it is a natural tendency to make sure that the man that is the provider to her and the children IS the biological father to those children.  It is a survival means.  A child that is known not to be the mans is not his responsibility to provide for that child and it puts the mother and the children that are his in Jeopardy  Women just couldn't go to a store and buy food.  Men were the hunters.  I hate to say it but there is also an instinct that men need to procreate many children and that's why there were more wives to give those children.  Now that times are different, we still have some of our old born instincts but we are more apt to control them because of what society deems right.
942682
I dont feel bad. They probably make their wives mad on purpose so they get divorced and like half of their money. Jerks, smart, but still jerks.
735146
I have a hard time understanding this kind of thing...men not helping around the house. BEFORE my husband and I were married, I told him I wanted us to be EQUAL partners. That meant, we'd both work, we'd both do housework, and we'd both pay the bills and raise the kids TOGETHER. I didn't want him to HELP. I wanted him to SHARE the responsibilities. He agreed, so I married him. Yes, I do a bit more housework, but he does a bit more working outside the house, and we do share the childcare. You need to sit down and TALK to him.  It goes like this: "I want us to start sharing more of the work. I am getting exhausted doing all the housework myself. If you don't want to do your 50%, then YOU need to hire me a cleaning service. It's your choice."
842205
Money is important in a relationship..just as important as sex..the Man doesn't have to be the sole provider but he should be there when his woman needs help or is a jam..not to be a sugar daddy though..to be there when it's important.
443225
Because they don't go through it. It's that simple. Women, even those without children can empathize because the very thought of pushing a 7 pound baby out of their body through that little opening is painful. And the problem men have is that they don't have anything to compare it to. If men went through something just as painful as women, they would be able to sympathize with them, but it's hard for men to do that when they don't expierienc the same thing.\n\nThe only thing close to child birth for a man is passing kidney stones. Many men, after they pass stones, will suddenly have more empathy for what their wives went through.
903242
I think some of it is insecurity. Insecure men have problems with independent women and it makes them feel bigger to think that we cannot take care of ourselves. But some of it is also biological and societal values. They are hard-wired to take care of us, to be the provider and protector.
758376
I am married to a man like this.  They live in a dream world.  Because they don't take responsibility for themselves they remain happy-go-lucky kids, which unfortunately gives them a certain charm.\n\nSit down with him.  Show him the bills.  Show him your paycheck.  Tell him you are struggling- which as a single mother I am sure you are.  Ask him for his help.  Then see if he steps up to the plate.\n\nYou don't need to give him any ultimatums.  But in your own mind you might say something like- if he doesn't have a job by the new year- he's out.  Then follow through.  When that time comes remind him of the conversation you had about the bills, of his promises if he made any- and he probably will, and tell him you love him but that you cannot afford another child right now.  You might tell him that if he gets and holds a job for at least 6 months you'll talk to him again.\n\nYou need to think about the example you are setting your children.  If they are girls you don't want them to wind up supporting some guy.  If they are boys you don't want them to think they can find a woman with a big heart and a full wallet.\n\nBe strong.  Be firm.  And tell me how to take my own advice.
323739
Sometimes you have to put yourself first, especially if you have kids, you are always doing something for someone else. If you don't take care of yourself, you can't do a good job taking care of anyone else. Maybe your husband needs to understand what you go through.
568955
Your kids must be spoiled rotten or you are spending some money. Is it you that wants the money? He has his bills and his girl (if he has one) and all his wants and needs. If you have a job, your kids are fine.
534576
Well, I don't think men always get the better end of the stick financially. They can try and out run their child support obligations, but those that do, usually don't have jobs, or getting paid lousy money to barely survive. Yes, they probably do get remarried easier, because they aren't toting around a half dozen kids, and actually have a chance of getting a life again. But they have a damned hard time, supporting...two families, which seems to be the way everyone wants it. The women CAN and do get remarried, all the time, those women usually work, because they've been single parents for awhile, so they get remarried, to another man who has a job, plus her ex eventually has to get a job, so child support starts pouring in...and who has more money than her then? What family can't make it on Three incomes? {hers, her new husband's and her ex's}\n  I'm sorry you made the mistake of not sticking it out in your marriage. I'm sorry if your ex has moved on, and not paying child support. Sometimes, we just have to live and learn in life. Until then, your going to have to get a job..and just do the best you can. And hope to make a better choice next go around.
494386
my home life is more important to me then anything. i quit a $60,000 a year job to stay home with my children because it's what i felt was the right thing to do for my family. i think some people can't get their priorities straight cause they still haven't figured out that money can't buy love yet. \n\npeople wake up no matter how sucessful or rich you are, what good will it be when you have no family, husband or wife to share it all with? there can be an ideal balance between the 2 for survival, but most just chase the buck and forget about what really matters.
987287
Why in the world are you starting a family if you can't afford to?
543555
America has a high rate due to selfishness.  If the other person doesn't do it for you, hit the road, Jack.  Marriage takes commitment, work, and the sacrifice of your wills for the benefit of the other.  In essence, IMHO, if you are not willing to die for your wife, then you are not ready for marriage.  I love my wife so much I would be willing to die in her place.