What Makes a Married Woman Take Off Her Ring?

The Daily Mail is at it again today with the sensational headline “Do YOU remove your wedding ring before going out to have fun? ONE FIFTH of married Brits do...and often after arguing.” British law firm Slater and Gordon (clearly a reliable source) surveyed 2,000 married couples under 40 years old to help us fully understand the meaning behind wedding ring removal. According to the DailyMail,

“The most common reasons people gave for removing their rings were that they felt they got more attention from the opposite sex without a ring, that [t]he ring was uncomfortable and that they were cross with their other half and wanted to make a point.”

Interestingly, the survey revealed that younger men are more committed to wearing a ring than their father or grandfathers, though men are more likely to take off their rings before social situations while women are more likely to take off their ring after a fight.

And this isn’t the first time the Daily Mail has reported on wedding ring removal. Last year the paper found that a third of women were removing their rings for a much different reason — employment prospects. Apparently, some women fear that their ring would inhibit them from getting a job or a promotion, because “having an engagement or wedding ring on would make employers think they wouldn't stay in the job long because they planned to start a family.”

But let's think about what a wedding ring actually is — yes, it’s a symbol of your commitment to your spouse, but it also acts as a warning sign to other potential mates and tells the world that someone put a ring on it. However, if you are planning on being unfaithful, a piece of precious metal isn’t going to stop you, on or off your finger. Furthermore, if a woman is planning on staying at her job, her relationship status shouldn’t matter, nor should her jewelry.

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