With all due respect, and I'm not attempting a venture into the world of sexism, I think women have more often than not been the gender left in the cold when a relationship deteriorates (mainly, I would venture, because men, as is the same today, made higher wages than women). Which I would aver, is the reason alimony came into existence.



Women have more legal protection to getting jobs than men do. Don't blame the man and make him pay because the woman chose not to pursue a better job. People are paid what they are WORTH in most cases and it has nothing to do with male or female. If you want top pay, then you have to be a top PERFOMER.



After all, there was a time when women could not even own property. So, archaic? Probably. But valid at a time in our past? Certainly.







It could be my personal bias, but I disagree. I know of no woman who would ever feel that way. In the few instances where I've known women who sought alimony, it was simply to make sure that she had time to get a job and begin taking care of her and their children.



However, my perception may be skewed. ATM our best friend is being utterly siphoned by his *wife* (due to his religious beliefs, he's not wont to be the first to file for divorce, unfortunately). And we are scared to death for him, knowing that she will attempt to get every penny he has. She's even resorted to siphoning their daughter's trust and college fund. :/



But to be honest, if the OP were a man asking the same question, I would have cited the same source. I would never base my participation or response on gender.