Marriage is a centuries-old institution, but like many other traditions, it varies from culture to culture and changes over time. Among the trends recently noted in the U.S., some inspire hope, and others cause concern. Among the positive trends are the declining divorce rate (Wang, 2020). However, some researchers are worried about the marriage rate decrease, which is the most prominent among working-class Americans (Wang, 2020). They assume that it may deepen the gap between people who can afford marriage and those who do not (Wang, 2020). However, not everyone thinks that there are reasons to worry. The perception of marriage has changed, with more people accepting cohabitation and stating that while marriage is important, there are more significant predictors of happiness, such as a meaningful occupation (Graf, 2019; Barroso, 2020). Hence, it is not only a lack of financial resources that prevent people from getting married.
While increasingly more individuals make a choice in favor of cohabitation, many still eventually decide upon marriage. Some of them tend to make some new choices compared to previous decades. For instance, more and more people have spouses with different religious beliefs (Geiger & Livingston, 2019). The rates of interracial marriages have also been increasing (Geiger & Livingston, 2019). A greater tolerance towards same-sex marriage is another positive tendency (Geiger & Livingston, 2019). These trends show the importance of diversity that breaks the barriers that used to separate people.
However, there are still multiple problems couples have to overcome. Conflicts occur in every relationship, and it is essential that partners learn to resolve them successfully (Benokraitis, 2015). Another major task for any couple is to find an efficient way to share their household responsibilities. Most people these days strive to divide them equally (Geiger, 2016). The quarantine that followed the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic has brought a new challenge many cohabiting and married people have to cope with. Being locked up with their partners and children is difficult for many individuals. Still, despite some concerns, the recent data indicates that, during this period, many couples grew even closer, overcoming anxiety together (Wang, 2020). Therefore, in any form, romantic relationships still make people happier.
References
Benokraitis, N. V. (2015). Marriages and families (8th ed.). Pearson.
Geiger, A. W. (2016). Sharing chores a key to good marriage, say majority of married adults. Pew Research Center. Web.
Geiger, A. W., & Livingston, G. (2019). 8 facts about love and marriage in America. Pew Research Center. Web.
Graf, N. (2019). Key findings on marriage and cohabitation in the U.S. Pew Research Center. Web.
Barroso, A. (2020). More than half of Americans say marriage is important but not essential to leading a fulfilling life. Pew Research Center. Web.
Wang, W. (2020). The U.S. divorce rate has hit a 50-year-old low. Institute for Family Studies. Web.