Is Marriage a Dying Institution?

Pew reports that the percentage of Americans married is at an all-time low

December 14, 2011 RSS Feed Print

A Pew Research Center/Time magazine study released Wednesday reports that the prevalence of marriage is at an all-time low, with just 51 percent of American adults married today. By contrast, in 1960, 72 percent of American adults were married. Furthermore, only 20 percent of 18-to-29-year-olds are married today, as opposed to 59 percent in 1960. Not surprising, given these numbers, is that 39 percent of Americans (from a 2010 report) see marriage becoming obsolete, up from 28 percent in 1978 when Time first asked whether it is. Despite the growing skepticism towards marriage, Americans still hold family dear, with over three-quarters reporting in 2010 that it is the most important element in their life. But how Americans define family depends on demographic, with younger, secular, and liberal Americans more accepting of unmarried cohabitation set-ups than their respective older, religious, or conservative counterparts. The 2010 study also found that the drop in marriage rates affected those at the bottom of socioeconomic scale than those at the top, with a 16 percent spread between married Americans without a high school degree (48 percent) and those with a college degree or higher (64 percent).

What do you think? Is marriage a dying institution? Take the poll and comment below.

Previously: Should Drivers Be Banned from Using Cell Phones?

Tags:: marriage,; Pew Research Center

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Marriage no longer corresponds to the needs of our time. It has completely lapsed its relevance, much in the same way as religions. The more open minded and advanced society becomes, the less need there is for restrictive institutions like marriage. People can still provide the same amount of love and care in their relationships, and yet be completely free of the need for such a hapless tradition.

Mattias Vittorio of PA 12:32PM August 30, 2012

I voted yes for a lot of reasons, but mainly because a faculty member of my son's school just asked me for an affair during our meeting today. A little shocked, I said, "You're married, right? Is it an open marriage?" His reply, "No one has to know." I politely declined.
Also, I had a relationship over the summer with a man who is going through a divorce in which his spouse had decided she didn't want to be a wife nor mother anymore and left him to be with another man. The husband still has an emotional attachment to this women (who withheld "affection" during their entire 20 years of marriage) and he can't let himself become involved in any other serious relationship. I tried to be patient, but decided to move on after 5 months.
The man my friend's wife left him for is still married to a woman who has discovered she is a lesbian and wants a divorce.
Another close friend left his wife of 10 years because she wouldn't give him any affection either. Now he's in a mutual love relationship with a woman who is married and plans to stay that way until her children are grown up. Both parties are miserable.
None of these couples should have ever been married in the first place, in my opinion.
fyi, I am a divorced woman who should never have been married to the man I was with for 24 years. I tried to stay for the kids' sake, but we are just not compatible.
These are all real stories -- I'm not clever enough to come up with them on my own! Not sure I believe in marriage ...at this moment at least.

Anonymous for a Reason of MO 2:23PM January 25, 2012

I do not think that marriage is a dying institution as much as it is a changing institution. The age of first marriage is increasing,probably reflecting the self-absorption of 20-30 yr olds with their career advancement over thoughts of sharing lifelong commitment with another person. The high divorce rate I think reflects the difficulty many have in transitioning from that focus on self to focus on family. But I think that marriage, with a public affirmation of mutual commitment, offers the best hope for emotional and financial security for the couple as well as any children. This becomes acutely apparent during middle and later ages, when health issues and loneliness often are overwhelming for singles or the loosely committed.

Sipaco of OH 11:56PM January 02, 2012

Is Marriage a Dying Institution?

Pew reports that the percentage of Americans married is at an all-time low