AMERICAN MARRIAGE IN THE EARLY TWENTY-FIRST

CENTURY

Natalie Williams

MARRIAGE 1890-2002

In 1890’s Men married at around age 26 Women at age 22

In 1950’s Men married at 23 Women at age 21

In 2002 Men marry around age 26-27 Women marry around 25-26

COHABITATION

Evolving phenomenon Same Sex couples more likely to live together Trial Marriage

see what it’s like to live with another before you marry them

Normally don’t last long Half will end up splitting up Can be through break up of boyfriend/girlfriend Through marriage

TWO PARENTS VS. ONE PARENT

1960-2002 Two parent families start to decline

62 percent One parent families increases

27 percent Neither parent

4 percent

CURRENT SITUATION OF MARRIAGE

16% of people agreed main purpose of marriage is to have children

94% want a soul mate Marriage remains a popular among the low

and middle class whether they can afford it or not

Homosexual couples want marriage More apparent in U.S than in other developed

Western Nations

INTO AND OUT OF MARRIAGE

517 divorces per 1,000 marriages Experience going in and out of more

marriages than any other Western Nations Children are more likely to be around

multiple unions U.S has twice as many unions as Sweden does Cohabitating can increase the number of unions

a person has

MARRIAGE IN A NEW LIGHT

Marriage is more optional People can choose to have families Marriage is based more on the individual

Less centered on the children With less children, less competition for parents

attention With people having multiple unions, the

children are placed in more unstable situations

Although, people divorce or break up, marriages continue to thrive in U.S.

CRITICAL THINKING QUESTION

20 years from now, do you think people will still value marriage or do you think it eventually will be a thing of the past?