The declines were spread across several sectors, most notably in two high-earning sectors: mining, quarrying, oil and gas extraction as well as construction.
However, that trend was reversed starting in the 1970s; since that time, increasingly more women have been taking their husband's surname upon marriage, especially among well-educated women in high-earning occupations.
Despite lawyers' status as high-earning professionals who might be more politically conservative, lawyers benefit professionally from a system of economic regulation.
I can't help suspecting that many of these women who got themselves on the ex-wives list were never passionately in love with their high-earning husbands.