Marriage

Whether we decide to wed or not, the topic of marriage will eventually be on our minds. Marriage has changed a lot since when our parents got married. According to “The Marriage Crisis”, by Aja Gabel, only half of Americans are married now compared to the 72 percent in 1960. The decrease in the rate of marriage is caused by the social and economic changes in America.

            Women are now working more than in the 1970s. Back then, marriage was like a business partnership. The husband provided financial support and the wife provided housework and child care. These days, more women are pursuing careers. They do not a have financial need for a partner. Women have more control over whether to become a mother or to earn higher wages. This has caused women today to think less about marriage with money on their mind and instead, with their hearts.

            Marriage may be on the decline, but there are more couples that live with each other today than ever before. This could be linked to the idea that couples are afraid to get married. Professor Robert Emery states that the high divorce rate has partly caused the decline in marriage. Couples feel less secure in the idea of committing to each other and staying in a lasting relationship. Cohabitation is their alternative to being married without the fear of divorce.

            Even though the success rate of a marriage is falling, I believe that marriage is still alive and strong in America. I can only speak from a personal experience. To my knowledge, my parents, aunts, uncles,  and grandparents all have a happy relationship. Whenever I see them together they are always smiling and kind. They are the role models in my life and one day I hope I can get what they have. They are my proof that a marriage can last.

            I think that marriage is still part of our social fabric. It is good that it is there because two people making a committment to each other is beautiful thing. It may sound cheesy, but faithfulness would not be a bad idea to pass down to our children. Marriage also teaches how to care for another person. I think that this is an important because studies show that people get their happiness from helping others. So essentially, in a marriage, you help each other be happy and isn't that what everyone wants?

            In Natalie Rivera's student essay, the idea of temporary marriages gets thrown into the air. Couples get to choose how long they want stay married for. It was an idea proposed to slow down the increasing rate of divorce and to free couples from the hassle of the divorce process. It is like a trial to see if a couple likes marriage. I do not agree with this idea. Even though it releases some pressure of committment, it voids the purpose of getting married in the first place. If couples doubt their chance their chance of staying together then they should just wait. I believe that marriage, as is stated in the vows, should last til death parts them.