Breaking up may well be hard to do but there is increasing evidence of women turning the pain of separation into the gain of success in other areas of their lives.
(PRWEB) September 17, 2005 -- Breaking up may well be hard to do but there is increasing evidence of women turning the pain of separation into the gain of success in other areas of their lives.
The latest pointer to this post-relationship prosperity is research from economists at the University of California showing divorced women work longer, earn more and have higher household incomes than wives or Bridget Jones-style singletons.
Perhaps the best-known example is JK Rowling, author of the Harry Potter books. The first lady of fiction married a local journalist while working in Portugal as an English teacher and, after her divorcing, famously moved to Edinburgh, writing her initial blockbusters in a caf while her daughter slept.
The begetter of Belinda Bagshot, Arsenius Jigger and Nearly Headless Nick is now worth 280m and wealthier than the Queen, according to the Sunday Times Rich List. She has also overtaken Cherie Blair as the most powerful woman in Britain, if you believe the latest Forbes list of the world's most influential females.
But there are numerous examples closer to home of similar triumph over trauma. Step into the spotlight, for example, theatre and dance school proprietor Gillian Banks, 49, from Maltby, near Rotherham.
She has just taken a prestigious ATHENA prize for demonstrating business excellence and developing leadership opportunities for women within her company and the community. Hers is the first organisation of its type to receive this honour from the ATHENA Foundation, an American organisation encouraging women into business and leadership roles.
Since her divorce in 2003 from a husband to whom she was married almost 25 years - the relationship producing two now-teenage boys - Ms Banks has focused her energies on developing her business, based off Grange Lane, Maltby. This now has 200 students, from two-year-olds to adults, qualifying through four nationally recognised examining boards.
Her pupils have had parts in TV soaps, toured with teenage heartthrobs Blue and secured recording contracts.
They have also performed at glitzy London venues, such as the Royal Albert Hall and Her Majesty's and Sadlers Wells theatres, as well as in shows in Lille, France, and Disneyland Paris.
Helen Revill, from the family team of national law firm Irwin Mitchell, based at its offices in Riverside Exchange, Sheffield, acted for Ms Banks during her divorce.
Ms Revill says there are several main reasons for women like her being better able to use separation as a springboard to success than in previous eras.
She says: "The landmark cases in the last five years of White and Lambert have made it difficult for the courts not to give a divorcing wife at least 50 per cent of the joint capital, even if the husband was the main breadwinner when they were together.
"The White v White judgment was the first time a home-maker was recognised as contributing as much to the relationship as the person who earned the money.
"The effects of these cases mean more newly-divorced women now have the means to acquire new skills or start a business, for example."
Ms Revill says a second reason these females fly higher is nine out of 10 women simply have to work after separating, even if they have had a lengthy period at home and need retraining to become marketable. She says their incomes at the time of divorce are often quite low, because they have been working part-time, for example.
She adds: "A more positive side of this 'needs must' attitude, which also helps explain success after separation, is the general rise of women in the workplace - we now simply have more opportunities to achieve than in previous eras."
Ms Banks began her business 28 years ago by hiring a church hall and holding classes for six children from the then-thriving mining village where few were inclined towards the performing arts.
She developed her lessons while gaining qualifications and experience, operating in church and school halls before acquiring her current purpose-built studios.
Her school still caters for people needing help with finance or other support to allow them or their children to attend classes.
Ms Banks said: "Since my divorce, I've put a lot of energy into the business and it's really paid off. Winning the ATHENA award was a great achievement and I'm really pleased.
"The divorce was a very stressful experience but I'm now a much stronger person for everything I went through and am undoubtedly more focused and confident in my ambitions.
"But equally, I don't think I could have achieved what I have without the support of family, friends and Irwin Mitchell's team, who were extremely helpful and informative, handling my case with empathy and loyalty while maintaining professionalism throughout.
"So although the opportunities are there for divorced women to thrive like never before, I do believe the support network around you is the other crucial factor if you want to turn a setback into success."