One of the most popular movies of 2023 is Oppenheimer. Oppenheimer tells the story of Robert Oppenheimer, director of the Manhattan Project. The Manhattan Project was the research undertaken to develop the United States first atomic bomb during World War II. A question raised about the Manhattan Project at the time was how the endeavor affected the divorce rate among employees and their spouses. In this article, we discuss the impact of employment on marriage, using the Manhattan Project as an illustration.
Manhattan Project and Family Life
The project was so secretive that most of the workers didn’t even know what they were working on, and their families were kept in the dark about their work. Despite these challenging conditions and the high-stakes nature of the work, divorce rates among Manhattan Project workers were lower than the national average at the time, according to a study conducted during the early 1940s. In other words, researchers concluded that the impact of work on marriage in the case of the Manhattan Project was not as significant as anticipated or presumed.
Reasons Why Divorce Rates was Lower Among Manhattan Project Workers
The study on impact of employment on marriage found that divorce rates among Manhattan Project workers were about half the national average during the early 1940s. This was surprising, given the long hours, hazardous conditions, and isolation from family and friends that the workers experienced. However, some factors may have contributed to these lower divorce rates. For instance, the workers received good pay and benefits, which may have helped to support their families. Additionally, the close-knit community of workers on the project may have provided a support system for families. Continue Reading →