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National Marriage Week USA kicks off today, and for many people, a national booster movement for marriage could not come any sooner. The recession did a number on American matrimony, as you've surely heard. The collapse in marriage rates is cited as one of the most important symptoms -- or is it a cause? -- of economic malaise for the middle class. But the statistics aren't always what they seem, and the reasons behind marriage's so-called decline aren't all negative.
At first blush, the institution of marriage is crumbling. In 1960, 72% of all adults over 18 were married. By 2010, the number fell to 51%. You can fault the increase in divorces that peaked in the 1970s. Or you could just blame the twentysomethings. The share of married adults 18-29 plunged from from 59% in 1960 to 20% in 2010. Twenty percent!
The Death (and Life) of Marriage in America
Article Source: The Atlantic — News and analysis on politics, business, culture, technology, national, international, and food – TheAtlantic.com- Enjoy this article? Help vote it up the 'Vine.
- Public Discussion (3)
First, for highly-educated or rich women, marriage rates are actually rising. It was once the case that a college degree was the equivalent of punching your spinster card. In the late 1800s, half of all college-educated women never married. But in the last 40 years, marriage rates have increased for the top 10 percent of female earners more than any other group, Michael Greenstone and Adam Looney found in a new report from The Hamilton Project. A 2004 American Community Survey also found college-educated women were 10 percentage points more likely to be currently married than women with less education.
- 1 vote
#1 - Wed Feb 8, 2012 8:19 AM ESTInteresting about rich or highly educated women! Didn't know that a college degree used to equal that!
All I can say or add to the marriage perspective is what I have experienced on a personal level. When it is bad, it is really really bad, and can be crippling. When it is good, if you are in a good marriage, yes there are ups and downs, but the underlying sense on contentment and happiness is priceless.
- 1 vote
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