Introduction
It is evident that our society has changed with regard to its perception of marriage. A closer look at the statistics reveals that traditional matrimony is no longer valued in our society. Marriage was once one of the most important goals in an individual’s life and it was considered one of the indicators of a successful life. This is no longer the case. Many people are increasingly finding it comfortable to stay single without ever getting married as compared to the last few decades. On the other hand, women are increasingly outearning their husbands and this is a key contributor to the declining marriages. Consequently, traditional marriage has become a weak institution, and even among the people who decide to tie the knot, marriages do not last as most of them end up in divorce. Additionally increased sexual freedoms have been blamed for the decline in traditional marriages (Witte, 24).
In the face of the recent economic recession, many individuals are likely to choose cohabitation as opposed to traditional marriage soon. The rates of marriage have dropped for both genders in all racial and ethnic groups. As opposed to the past when people were to get married to enjoy sex, the advent of birth control bills has resulted in sexual freedom, and the outside marriage is no longer seen as against societal morals. With the ever-rising trend of unmarried cohabiting together, traditional matrimony is increasingly facing the danger of extinction particularly in our contemporary society.
Traditional matrimony: A dying institution?
Traditional matrimony has always been a universal phenomenon in America and there are currently several factors that can be attributed to the current decline. Apart from the increased divorce rates and the rise in cohabitation as a preferential alternative to marriage, the other likely factors include the increased labor participation of women in the labor force as well as their improved educational standards. Even among married, couples are no longer keeping their pre-nuptial agreements and, as a result, the marriages do not often last. According to Axinn’s (148), survey, nearly 60% of marriages end in separation and divorce and traditional marriage is becoming irrelevant in contemporary society. Many analysts also concur that traditional matrimony is rapidly dying. Currently, there are many Americans who choose to cohabit before marriage and are not planning to conduct the traditional wedding (Bumpass and James, 616). There are also a significant number of people who are no longer thinking of ever tying the knot and all these indicate a decline in the cultural esteem regarding traditional marriage.
The recent census indicates that the number of unmarried households in the United States has risen to over 50% for the first time in history (Blackburn, 266). While these figures may indicate the changing lifestyles in our society, the causes of this phenomenon are usually diverse. According to many researchers, the primary factor that has led to the decline in traditional marriages is that the current generations prefer to cohabitate rather than get married. A majority of those who cohabitate are those who do not want any commitment and are, therefore, content with staying together without exchanging the vows. On the other hand, media stereotyping has also significantly contributed to the lack of faith in traditional matrimony. This is particularly true as celebrities are constantly divorcing, thereby, making the marriage institution lose the respect it previously had.
The rising cases of divorce may also be the likely factor behind many unmarried households. Currently, divorce is easier than any other time in history and many couples are increasingly opting to become single parents because they no longer believe in the traditional matrimony. Women are, nowadays, more empowered and they no longer need husbands for financial support. As opposed to the past, many women now have their own sources of income. As a result, traditional matrimony is increasingly going out of style and today’s era of the family is not defined by marriage but rather our contemporary society is defined by individual liberties and financial freedom.
Another important factor that has contributed to the decline in traditional marriages particularly in the low-class social groups is the improved educational standards of women as well as their participation in the labor force. This is because as more women continue to attain educational standards, equal relative, to their male counterparts, their earnings also increase, and, consequently, women no longer depend on their spouses as their primary source of income. Women increasingly out-earning their husbands and these are a key contributor to the declining marriages.
Conclusion
In conclusion, American society has undergone significant changes, some of which have resulted in a decline in the replacement of the traditional matrimony with cohabitation, single parenthood, and divorce. Consequently, marriage is no longer a central institution in society and traditional marriage is increasingly going out of style.
References
Axinn, Thornton. “The transformation in the meaning of marriage”, New York: Aldine, 2000. Print.
Blackburn, Korenman. The declining marital status earnings differential. Journal of Population Economics,7.1(1994): 249-270.
Bumpass Larry and James Sweet, “National Estimates of Cohabitation,” Demography 24.4 (1989): 615-625.
Witte, John, “From Sacrament to Contract: Marriage, Religion, and Law in the WesternTradition”.Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1997. Print.