Millennials And Marriage: A New Social Trend

Some people think that the famous question “Will you marry me?” will disappear over time. However, they will have to change their mind when they read this article! The marriage will not disappear. So keep reading to discover the latest trends in millennials and marriage.

In this article, we break down some of the major challenges that marriage will face. The marriage is not in ruin. People only get married a little later in life. This is what recent statistics seem to indicate. Some specialists have explored the link between millennials and marriage.

Our new generations have not scrapped the idea of ​​marriage. They have only changed the “how” and the “when”. Millennial couples believe in marriage. However, they believe that an average relationship of six years is a wise choice before they get married.

A new social trend

The previous generation of young people had already started to extend this time. So it seems to be an increasing trend among millennials as well. This period in which they get to know themselves and their partner seems to be one of the new premarital guarantees.

After all , many millennials come from families that were split from each other through divorce. So this may well be their way of making sure they don’t have to go through such a difficult situation in their own marriage. Financial issues also appear to play a crucial role in their decision to commit and marry.

“In good and bad days” is gone. Our young people want to develop and establish their professional career before starting a family.

Some people believe that this is a selfish way of looking at things. However, the truth is that it is a very responsible way of introducing their future offspring into a world that is increasingly competitive for children and their parents.

What do the statistics say about millennials and marriage?

Statistics have been published in  The New York Times . Well, they tell us that young people wait longer to get married. In the United States in 2019, the average age of marriage was 30 for men and 28 for women.

The statistics also show us that the percentage of people who decide to get married has fallen by almost 25% among young millennials since the 1970s.

Contrary to what usually happened decades ago, young people today spend more time strengthening their relationship. Often they decide to live together for a while before getting married.

Statistics also reveal this. Most people who earn less than 27,000 euros a year consider their financial situation to be the factor that slows them down the most. It prevents them from considering the decision to emotionally commit to someone.

Things are better than they may seem

We can view the statistics as discouraging. Still, we need to take a closer look at them. On closer examination, it shows us that these major changes bring a sense of responsibility into the relationship between millennials and marriage.

According to researcher Stephanie Coontz, 80% of millennials will be married by the time they reach middle age. These are roughly the same numbers as 50 years ago. However, we’ve mentioned it before. What has changed is the age at which people decide to get married.

Female Millennials and Marriage

One of the factors that seems to influence marriage decisions to a large extent is the change in the role of women in recent decades. Unlike their mothers and grandmothers, this generation of young women was not raised to marry.

For the first time in history, women are changing the idea that marriage is the primary goal in life. Instead, they look for a better quality marriage. When they decide to make the move, they look for partners who will guarantee them a happy and lasting marriage.

The investigation also shed light on another fact. Marriage is no longer the only way society defines what a serious relationship is.

Better Marriages

For those who are quick with their critiques, there are some interesting statistics. Marriages between millennials are  indeed  better, even if they marry less often.

Between 2008 and 2016, the number of divorces actually fell by 18%. Another study conducted by Philip Cohen of the University of Maryland provided this information. The study’s author concluded that millennials are approaching marriage in an increasingly selective way.

Their goal is to distinguish between romantic relationships and marriage. They are not always the same. They seek greater stability in their partner, lasting relationships, a more rewarding life experience, and financial interdependence.

We have to deal with many cultural and social changes. Marriage as an institution loses none of its value in young people. However, they view and appreciate it in other ways.