Educated people (meaning those with 4 year degrees) marry at about the same rates now that they always have. I believe that this is because they the value of the financial, social and other benefits, especially when there are children involved.
Uneducated people, on the other hand, marry less and divorce more often. I think there are a lot of reasons, including the following:
First, because social welfare benefits are much more generous to single mothers (SNAP, WIC, Section 8, other welfare benefits, free health insurance for the kids and their mothers, disability payments for mother and/or children, etc.,etc.), than they were 40 years ago, which makes marriage less of a financial necessity. This is even true despite welfare reform in the 90s, especially in many the blue states, which are very loose in enforcing the current standards.
Second, a degradation of social values in the lower class has made it more socially acceptable for both women and men to pop kids out regardless of marital status. This has had the unintended consequences of women having kids that they cannot afford and men taking less responsibility for their children once they have them.
But hey, look at the bright side. The world needs ditch diggers, retail employees, and of course strippers too. If every child was raised in a responsible two parent household, with financial and emotional security and a focus on things like academics, character development, moral values, etc., how would we ever find enough people to fill those roles?
Google search shows the author of the WSJ article, sociologist Mark Regnerus, went to Trinity Christian College. Maybe he reflects that tiny segment of society who still thinks that premarital sex is a sin? There're so many other legitimate reasons why people are waiting longer to get married.
I stopped subscribing to WSJ a few years ago. The financial reporting is okay but the editorial content is sometimes idiotic.
"Random, what does his former college have to do with the accuracy of the article?"
-----------------
Like everyone else in this thread, I don't think the article is accurate. It's just a guess as to why this guy has such strange attitudes about sex and marriage. Almost nobody gets married anymore because the cost or availability of sex. Strikes me as something the evangelical community might come up with. Doesn't surprise me that he went to Christian college.
Just a bit of anecdotal evidence against the article referenced, just in the last two years alone I have been invited to nine different weddings, using that as a baseline, I’d have to say plenty of people are getting married, as a matter of fact there is a shortage of dates available at many popular wedding and banquet halls.
Idk. I don't buy all aspects of the article, including the notion that "cheap sex" is ultimately removing the motivation for some guys to get college degrees and otherwise improve their prospects. But I do agree that it is delaying or even eliminating some guys' desire to get married. After all, why buy the cow if you can get the milk on the cheap?
Shit, I spent several years after my first marriage with a parade of women cycling through my bed - it was unbelievably easy to get laid. Most of them wanted more than just sex, but I didn't, at least not with them. It wasn't until I found a woman who I thought would be a good mother that I got serious about settling down for good.
I agree. Attitudes regarding getting married before living together have changed dramatically over the past 30 years. It's not as if you are "living in sin" as it was previously considered.
I think many couples live together for years, while they decide if they can live together comfortably. As they get more comfortable, and possibly have kids too, they might decide that they are fine as they are (and don't need marriage).
That's my hypothetical view...for what it's worth.
11 comments
They've all been hotter than the richest women on TV.
I work hard for money. They work hard for my money.
I dated a super-hot wanna-be big-city lawyer in college. Her career came before anything else. She's made good money, but she's 40 and still lonely.
The added tax for married couples might also be part of the reason too. Of course - there's also the cost of divorce.
Or maybe folks are taking the time to be sure of their decision?
Uneducated people, on the other hand, marry less and divorce more often. I think there are a lot of reasons, including the following:
First, because social welfare benefits are much more generous to single mothers (SNAP, WIC, Section 8, other welfare benefits, free health insurance for the kids and their mothers, disability payments for mother and/or children, etc.,etc.), than they were 40 years ago, which makes marriage less of a financial necessity. This is even true despite welfare reform in the 90s, especially in many the blue states, which are very loose in enforcing the current standards.
Second, a degradation of social values in the lower class has made it more socially acceptable for both women and men to pop kids out regardless of marital status. This has had the unintended consequences of women having kids that they cannot afford and men taking less responsibility for their children once they have them.
But hey, look at the bright side. The world needs ditch diggers, retail employees, and of course strippers too. If every child was raised in a responsible two parent household, with financial and emotional security and a focus on things like academics, character development, moral values, etc., how would we ever find enough people to fill those roles?
I stopped subscribing to WSJ a few years ago. The financial reporting is okay but the editorial content is sometimes idiotic.
-----------------
Like everyone else in this thread, I don't think the article is accurate. It's just a guess as to why this guy has such strange attitudes about sex and marriage. Almost nobody gets married anymore because the cost or availability of sex. Strikes me as something the evangelical community might come up with. Doesn't surprise me that he went to Christian college.
Shit, I spent several years after my first marriage with a parade of women cycling through my bed - it was unbelievably easy to get laid. Most of them wanted more than just sex, but I didn't, at least not with them. It wasn't until I found a woman who I thought would be a good mother that I got serious about settling down for good.
I think many couples live together for years, while they decide if they can live together comfortably. As they get more comfortable, and possibly have kids too, they might decide that they are fine as they are (and don't need marriage).
That's my hypothetical view...for what it's worth.