中老年的“灰发离婚变革”

 　　随着年龄的增长，女性对于生活的期望值变得越来越高，她们不满足于“不太糟糕”的婚姻。当她们人过中年，有钱有闲付诸行动时，爆发的时刻到了——于是一场“灰发离婚变革”随之而来。

　　America is in the throes of a grey divorce revolution as married couples over the age of 50 split up in unprecedented¹ numbers.

　　随着50岁以上夫妻分道扬镳的数量空前增多，美国正处于“灰发离婚变革”的阵痛中。

　　Although the overall national divorce rate has been creeping downwards² since the 1980s, the divorce rate among those 50 and over -- so-called "gray divorces" -- has doubled over the last two decades, according to a study released this year by sociologists at Bowling³ Green State University. For those over 65, the rate has tripled. In 2020 one in four American who divorced was 50 or older. In 1990 it was fewer than one in 10.

　　鲍灵格林大学社会学家今年发布的调查显示，虽然自上世纪80年代，该国整体离婚率有所下降，但50岁以上人群的离婚率，即所谓的“灰发离婚”比过去20年翻了一番。65岁以上人群的离婚率则增加了两倍。到2020年，每4个离婚的美国人当中就有一个是50多岁，而1990年的这一比例还不到十分之一。

　　Sociologists call the trend the gray divorce revolution, and they say there are several factors at play here: the economy, history of relationships, and the role of men and women.

　　社会学家将这一趋势称之为“灰发离婚变革”，他们表示这一现象背后有许多原因：经济、两人关系的发展历程，以及男女所处角色等。

1 unprecedented   

adj.无前例的，新奇的

参考例句：

• The air crash caused an unprecedented number of deaths.这次空难的死亡人数是空前的。
• A flood of this sort is really unprecedented.这样大的洪水真是十年九不遇。

2 downwards   

adj./adv.向下的（地），下行的（地）

参考例句：

• He lay face downwards on his bed.他脸向下伏在床上。
• As the river flows downwards,it widens.这条河愈到下游愈宽。

3 bowling   

n.保龄球运动

参考例句：

• Bowling is a popular sport with young and old.保龄球是老少都爱的运动。
• Which sport do you 1ike most,golf or bowling?你最喜欢什么运动，高尔夫还是保龄球？