what is a gray divorce

Gray divorce is a term used to describe the demographic trend of an increasing divorce rate for older couples in long-lasting marriages, usually after the age of 50. The term "gray" or "silver" refers to the hair color of the couples involved. Gray divorces tend to be financially harmful to the individuals involved, as they are either retired or close to retirement, so they have less opportunity to earn or save more money than a person who divorced at a younger age. Any retirement savings that survive the divorce have little time to grow again. The phenomenon entered the public awareness with a 2004 AARP study and was further elucidated in Deirdre Bairs 2007 book Calling It Quits, which contained interviews with gray divorcees. According to research by AARP, most gray divorces are initiated by women as they reportedly asked for a divorce in 66% of reported cases, while only 39% of men and 15% of couples.