More in America Putting Off Marriage

[Rose Siding]

snip>
Data from the Census Bureau's Current Population Survey released this week show the age at which someone typically marries for the first time rose from 20.8 for women and 23.2 for men in 1970 to 25.3 and 27.1, respectively, last year.

In 1970, only 6 percent of women 30 to 34 had never been married; the figure was 23 percent in 2003. The rate for never-married men in the same age group rose from 9 percent to 33 percent.

Among younger women, some 36 percent of those 20 to 24 had never been married in 1970; last year it was 75 percent. Among men in that age group, the change was nearly as dramatic: 55 percent in 1970 to 86 percent last year.
......
Meaghan Lamarre, 24, a research assistant in Providence, R.I., said she and her boyfriend of 10 months "are not in a big hurry to marry." Lamarre's focus is on work and getting into an Ivy League graduate program, possibly in public policy.

"There's no time frame of when to get married.... It's not a goal," said Lamarre, an Alternatives to Marriage Project member. "I'm not opposed to it, but I think I could live happily ever after without being married."

That kind of talk disturbs David Blankenhorn, president of the Institute for American Values, a New York-based pro-marriage organization. Blankenhorn says Lamarre's philosophy is more of a concern to him than those who delay marriage to focus on school or a career.

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-never-married,0,1358388.story?coll=sns-ap-nationworld-headlines

[Politicub]

1. SINNERS

Freedom is on the march. They are pissing off moses and the baby jesus by not joining in holy matrimony by the age of 16.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

2. Dr. Mr. Blankenhorn:

Certainly, you must have more pressing issues in your life. Like taking a healthy shit, perhaps.

Butt out of other people's lives, pheul. You are a busybody and a noodge.

PS: Your kind of shit is getting very, very tedious.

[LisaL]

3. It's rather ironic, but gays might be the people who actually

want to marry-but aren't allowed too.

[matt819]

4. Well of course they are. . .

Haven't you heard that gay marriage is destroying the institution of marriage? Here's the proof. These folks are living proof that gays wanting to marry has not only destroyed the sanctity of existing marriages but turned people off the idea of marriage at all.

Jeez, I thought it was obvious.

[Rose Siding]

11. Notice the figures aren't given for those unable to marry

In fact, Newsday has a companion article that doesn't mention them as a factor either-

Summary Box:
DELAYING MARRIAGE: One-third of men and nearly one-quarter of women have never been married when they reach 34, nearly four times the rates in 1970, Census Bureau figures show.

POSSIBLE REASONS: People are focusing on education and careers. The easing of taboos about couples living together before marriage and having children outside marriage may also contribute.

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-never-married-summary-box,0,2694436.story?coll=sns-ap-nationworld-headlines

...as though they don't exist.

[Cats Against Frist]

5. Maybe that would be because marriage is L-A-M-E

I've never been married, but I've had two extra-long-term boyfriends, and those relationships were boring as all get out, after everyone sobered up. THAT is why I always have more than one boyfriend...

[faithfull]

6. 3 cheers for...

Hot, pagan, (safe), premarital sex!

:donut: and coffee

[Gregorian]

7. Hey! Over here! 48 years old, and counting. No marriage in my plans.

Yippee, I can do anything, anytime I want.
I have cats. Isn't that something like being married?
Two giant crazy CATS. It's good enough for me. Fuck marriage. And for that matter, screw the holidays. Yippee!

[Dem2theMax]

13. 48 over here and single too. Wanna stay single together? lol.

I'm happy to have avoided marriage so far. Engaged twice, but woke up in time. Whew! :)

[Gregorian]

18. Yeah, I know.

You hit this age, and suddenly there seems to be a need for companionship. I have to admit, now that I've accomplished just about everything I set out to do, there is a void. I'm not sure if it's lack of companionship, or beer.
I really admire anyone who has made it this far without getting hitched. Bravo for us!
But wouldn't it be nice to have someone else cook dinner once in a while?

[Dem2theMax]

19. I know what you mean.

My last 'ex' was more my best friend than boyfriend. I miss the 'doing things together' but I sure don't miss the relationship. Isn't that pitiful? lol. As for the cooking part, wellllll, he did the cooking. I did the cleaning. I do miss his cooking. Now I'm laughing. He's probably still alive because I didn't cook. :)

It would just be nice to have someone to do fun stuff with - no strings attached. But beer is good too. :) :toast:

[Gregorian]

20. Now that is a hell of a good line.

He's probably still alive because I didn't cook. That goes down as one of my favorites.

Cheers to you too!

[Dulcinea]

8. I didn't get married till age 31.

Too busy having fun & pursuing a career!

I got an offer at 24 & turned it down with absolutely no regrets. I wasn't ready yet! I was a happy single chick for a long time!

At my 10-year HS reunion, all the people who had gotten married before age 21 were divorced w/ kids. How depressing.

[WMliberal]

9. i totally understand. i'm 22 and don't plan on it at all

if it does happen, it's at least SEVERAL years off.
My girlfriend of 6 years and I just split up over some of these reasons.

I didn't read the article, but does it say about the impact on having children? Is there a causal drop in the birthrate? Or are parents going it alone more than before.

[IHeart1993]

10. All of my friends from college....

have gotten married. I'm the odd one out. All of them are younger than me (I'm 25). I had to sit with them at the marriage of one of them last May.
There are many young women from my high school are getting married young, and they're the bright ones who have a lot of options. In fact, my High School (phony) Valedictorian married a townie. She went to Notre Dame. I predict DIVORCE for them.
p.s She was valedictorian because her mother was on the faculty. And the guy she married is adopted. No nepotism for him.
I Heart 1993

[Jim Sagle]

12. No romance without finance...

[SKKY]

14. Smart bastards!

Just kidding.

[SemperEadem]

15. Why? It doesn't concern him directly

Blankenhorn says Lamarre's philosophy is more of a concern to him than those who delay marriage to focus on school or a career.

I don't see how this directly affects him. What someone he'll never know chooses to do with their lives, or how they choose to live their lives, isn't taking any money out of his pocket, isn't taking food out of his mouth, isn't taking a roof from over his head or clothes from off his back. Blankenhorn is a nosey busy-body who clearly doesn't have enough to do with his time and energy. Perhaps he needs to strap on a machine gun and go fight in Iraq, if he's got that kind of time on his hands.

I'm 44 and have no interest in being married--every married person I know is miserable and disillusioned... and the vast majority of those are so-called christians on their second marriages.

[Chico Man]

16. I've been with my fiance for 7 years

We have a 4 year old son and another one on the way. We are finally getting married in September.

We really just see it as one hell of a party. It will be interesting being the center of attention. Life will be the same after.

[eoberhauser]

27. I've been with my fiancee for 7 years also!

Time really flies. We have no concrete plans for a wedding - it's just not that important to us. We are happy and own a business together, and live together. No big deal. Why ruin a good thing?!

Erin

[Chico Man]

29. Well, I wouldn't say getting married will ruin it...

But as they say, if it ain't broke, don't fix it!

I think getting married will actually be fun. I'm glad we waited as long as we did. We sure do know each other pretty well by now :)

And they say in those college "marriage and family" courses that marriages between people who did not live together pre marriage are "statistically" stronger than marriages between those who lived together..

I don't understand that.

Like I said, next Sept there is going to be one hell of a party :)

[iamjoy]

17. I Love Being Married!

I love my husband. Monogamy rocks!

But that was my decision, and I was 24 and he was 27 when we married. I'm glad I didn't get married to the guy I loved when I was 18!

I confess, though, and this isn't a moral judgement, just curiosity:
I don't understand people who have children together or buy a house together, but when you ask if they are married they say they aren't ready for that comitment.

:wtf:

With no property it is fairly easy to get a divorce but children will always tie you together (in some manner) and it isn't always easy to sell a house.

[AgadorSparticus]

24. just my take: the minute you are married or in a monogomous

commitment, the expectations go through the roof. we all have expectations of what our SO is supposed to be like. but if you have the kids and house but no relationship strx, then it takes the pressures off. it is easier to maintain that part of your 'self'.

hope that makes sense.

[BadGimp]

21. Childless Heathens

eom

[RPM]

22. fuck it - pull another 9/11

that sure boosted marriage rates - for awhile at least

[sonicx]

23. you mean gays aren't responsible for destroying marriage?

:wow:

the TV lied to me!

To be honest, i don't care how low the rates go. Married people are more likely to vote Republican. :D

[AgadorSparticus]

25. there is a pro-marriage organization???

:wow: what in god's name for? we going to end wars and world hunger because everyone is married? unfreakingbelievable....

[Voltaire99]

26. The wise know: stay unmarried until some time in your thirties

Meantime, get your freak on!

[killbotfactory]

32. That's what Dr. Luara advises

only without all the sex in the meantime

[Mountainman]

28. Why is it anybody's business who gets married and who has kids or not?

Maybe if the repub fundies stay in power we can go back to pre arranged marriages. You can have your kids promiced to wed whom ever you dicide and when.

[Chico Man]

30. An indian colleague of mine is travelling back to India this month

To "pick up" his new wife. ( I think he met her once? )

I understand this is "culture", but I find it quite hideous none-the-less and completely against human nature.

[DFWJock]

31. As an unmarried (hot) homo I say...

I welcome the straight unmarried folks to our battle to disrupt marriage and wreak havoc on family values.

Bring em on