Chapter 9

Chapter 9

(Singlehood, cohabitation, civil unions, & other options)

Summary:

This chapter begins with the idea of marriage to Americans. The author concentrates on the fact that more people today choose to not marry, but in fact live together or participate in another situation. He poses the question, have we opted out of marriage too quickly? The chapter continues focusing the single life and why marriage life is postponed so heavily. The median age for marriage has risen in the last fifty years from 23 (male) and 20 (females) to 27 (male) and 26 (female). Single is said to be more acceptable because some feel the pressures of marriage are becoming too much and too risky. The diversity of being single varies from voluntary temporary and stable to involuntary temporary and stable lifestyles. These can of course change overtime, but the wide spectrum they fall on brings light to their current situation.

As people get other, they are said to become a little bit more meticulous since they are looking for characteristics that would compliment them in marriage. However, for those who stay along, the sea of compatible partners become smaller. About 80% of people who live along are white because it is said that ethnic groups are more likely to live in extended household. There are many different reasons and factors why one lives by themselves and/or is single such as privacy, affordability, individualism, no drama, sex ratio, the marriage squeeze, social class, children issue, independence, waiting for a soul mate and commitment of course. The chapter continues with dissecting relationships and single life with race as the borderline with statistics for African Americans, Latinos, Asian Americans ect.

New and Interesting info:

More than 90% of all ‘Americans’ have or will marry atleast once in their life. This is of course different in other cultures. But I found it very interesting that it is prevalent in this society much more than any other culture. IT has me question the morals of this country.

Question:

Concerning the high percentage of Americans have gotten married already, do you think marriage has lost its sanctity in this society?