Is the Marriage Institution Losing Ground?

There are many young people who refuse to tie the matrimonial knot these days. It’s not a matter of not wanting to commit but I gather that it is more of a state of disillusionment with the state of matrimony.

Some of the young people I’ve met are of the opinion that they do not need that piece of paper to validate their relationships. I suspect this could just be an excuse to make it less of a hassle should they decide to part ways. Once you have signed on the dotted line, it is not so easy to just walk away. The law does not allow it. However, if you have not signed before the registrar of marriages, then it is a simple matter of leaving the relationship after sorting out the joint properties that you have accumulated.

Others have indicated that their friends’ marriages hardly lasted two years before each went their separate ways. Thus they do not want this happen to them. They’d rather stay single.

Besides, being single makes you accountable to no one but yourself. You are at liberty to do whatever you wish. If you want to travel, all you have to do is to pack a bag, lock up your place and leave. There is no need to seek the consent of a partner nor to have to give reasons for wanting to travel at that particular time. You do not have to face the moods or tantrums of the other person should there be any disagreements.

However for those in a relationship, there is the commitment to each other and to them the marriage certificate is just a piece of paper they can do without. On the other hand should a baby come into the picture, they may have to legitimize their union for the sake of the unborn child so that he or she will not be stigmatized as a bastard without any legal rights.

Then again, babies mean commitment and a lifetime of having to raise them, providing them with the best education that they can afford. In most cases, it means having to sacrifice your own needs and wants for the baby.

This could be seen as having to slave throughout your life for the child until he is independent by which time you yourself will be old and still do not have the means to have a comfortable standard of living. Most of your savings would have been expended on your offspring. Whatever is left may not see you through your retirement and you would be in hardship at a time when you could be relaxing comfortably if you were single.

Is it any wonder then that many young people these days prefer to remain single, enjoy their earnings and lead a lifestyle of their choice? They can go in and out of relationships without a care but Heaven forbid if there is a little one on the way. Abandonment is more often than not, the case, leaving the poor girl literally holding the baby, all too frequently with dire consequences.

Tweet