Why are less young men and women getting married?

[Miami1839]

I agree with Mikki Our society has definitely revolutionized since the sixties. People now days are definitely more focused on planning and getting their careers in order. At least that seems to be the norm. College really isnt the time to meet your mate or really date seriously anyway. For some it works I guess, but not for most students. I believe most of it revolves around timing and everyone has their own path. Some people hit it off in college and others marry much later for whatever reason. I think its sort of a blessing now days that people are marrying older with the way the divorce rate is. I'm believe if I ever marry it will be only once. At my age I'm hearing that many people are sick of getting burned, ladies wanting a guy thats thoughtful and commited(One that will accept you for who you are regardless of your strengths or weakness), and not one thats a game player. Plus, women have that biological clock that only ticks for so long.

[This message has been edited by Miami1839 (edited April 25, 2001).]

[carrot]

Well I guess I'm one of those "losers" then. Yep..I'm only 22, graduating in a few weeks...and YES, I'm getting married this fall, to my honey of five years. I also believe that there is a right time for everything, and that God always has a plan. So I'm marrying at 22...

Anyway I love my guy, and I would not trade him for anything in the world. He is IT for me! And--I'm still working even though I'm getting married...who said that young married couples can't have great careers too???!!!

Jacqueline

[SilverTurtle]

You know, it's really just different for everyone. My mom was married at 16, her mom (my grandma) at 14

My older brother was 21, my younger sister was 19 ( again!)

I, on the other hand, don't really see marriage anywhere in my future, at least not for another 10 years or so. I see marriage as more of a convention for those people who want to raise families. (I'm not knockin it, families are great. Just not what I'm interested in).
I have been with my boyfriend for over 3 years, and it's just not something we're ready for. (Never say never, though, right? )

There's a great line in the movie St. Elmo's Fire where Ally Sheedy is talking about how she's unsure of getting married.. I have to paraphrase, cause I can't remember it exactly:

Marriage was invented when people only lived to be 35, and the rest of your life was only 10-15 years.

You get the point. My philosophy is that I have a long time left before the rest of my life is only 10-15 years. And if my time comes sooner, I know I won't regret not being married.

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SilverTurtle@greekchat.com

Phi Beta Fraternity
Phi chapter

[newbie]

Well, I'm a total romantic...so I would love it if I met my future husband in college! However, I have a wonderful boyfriend right now (well, maybe not lately ) but anyway...I think I would be pretty happy marrying him in the future...

I actually have wanted to get married at 24 yrs. of age ever since I was a little girl. Don't know why I picked that number though! But I won't get discouraged if I don't marry by then...I intend to have a happy life no matter what--and I hope to have a very successful career, young marriage or not!

CARROT, congratulations girl!!!!!!! I didn't know you were getting married so soon (in the fall)! Congrats again to you and Jack, and I KNOW that you will totally kick a$$ as an Interior Designer!!

[This message has been edited by newbie (edited April 26, 2001).]

[Alumnus who cares]

I'm almost 27 now, and I know I won't be married before I'm 30. My last serious girlfriend and I were together for 3 years, and we broke up a year and a half ago (doesn't feel like it's been that long). Bottom line is, I haven't found that person who I want to spend the rest of my life with yet. I'm pretty sure I will someday though.

My brother is getting married in 3 weeks, and his fiance is 21. My sister is 23, and she's getting married in September. That's really young. I can't imagine getting married at that age. But I'm happy for them. They both found the one special person while they were in school.

The clock is ticking for me, I know that...

[AKA2D '91]

Originally posted by Alumnus who cares:
I'm almost 27 now, and I know I won't be married before I'm 30. My last serious girlfriend and I were together for 3 years, and we broke up a year and a half ago (doesn't feel like it's been that long). Bottom line is, I haven't found that person who I want to spend the rest of my life with yet. I'm pretty sure I will someday though.

My brother is getting married in 3 weeks, and his fiance is 21. My sister is 23, and she's getting married in September. That's really young. I can't imagine getting married at that age. But I'm happy for them. They both found the one special person while they were in school.

The clock is ticking for me, I know that...

My sister was married at 21, he was 23. That was 12 years ago and three children later....She and my brother-n-law are still at/in it...

they have purchased a home, sold it, and are NOW building a home...

So, I guess it's all in what you put into it...

Who knows....

[MaryMayXO]

I am a hopeless romantic and believe that my soulmate is somewhere out there. I haven't met him yet, which is absolutely fine with me. I am sure I'll meet him when the time is right.
I was in a serious relationship for about 2 years and it was wonderful, but I was too young. At 19, there was so much out there for me to experience, so we broke up. I went away to school, joined a sorority, and now I totally feel like I have experienced the whole "college life." I have also grown up alot. I am 22 now and about to graduate (in less than a week)and I still feel too young to be settled down in a relatonship. Sure, I date, but nothing too serious. I just figure that I have the rest of my life to be married, so there is no need to rush it now. I guess, as me and my friends describe it, I am at the point in my life where it's "ME" time. I have lots of time to worry about the marriage stuff later!

[carrot]

Originally posted by newbie:
CARROT, congratulations girl!!!!!!! I didn't know you were getting married so soon (in the fall)! Congrats again to you and Jack, and I KNOW that you will totally kick a$$ as an Interior Designer!!

Newbie, you rock sweetheart!!! Thank you so much! Yes, I'm very excited about the upcoming wedding...but preparations are soon gonna be hectic, let me tell you! But i'm having so much fun, especially with dress-shopping with my bridesmaids, and planning the whole thing! Jack is awesome...I love him so much!

[DBPM04]

I am actually taking a class that is very involved in this subject. THe divorce rate is high...but it is also misleading becuase 70% of divorced people get remarried. And it is all marriages ever...over many years...not just one. So it's not like 50% of the people this year got divorced....it's 50% of people ever (a lot of which were couples that had been married 20+ years). Society has also become more accepting of POSSLQ (this is an actual term refering to Persons (of) Opposite Sex Sharing Living Quarters) This has led to less people feeling the need to become married. THey just live together without taking that final step. More women are also going to college and no longer feel or the pressure to get married right out of high school. Also, more and more people are going for advanced degress....starting in 1990 about 40,000 people a year recieve a PhD. This pushes back plans of marriage and children.

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pass that old silver goblet with the Phi Mu upon it and we'll all have another round of *cheer* cuz it's not for knowledge that we came to college but to have fun while we're here!

[This message has been edited by DBPM04 (edited May 05, 2001).]