Watch a classic black-and-white movie, and you pretty much know how it’s going to end. In an old-fashioned Western, the white-hatted hero will ride into the sunset. A monster movie? The monster won’t survive to the credits (until the next sequel comes out, that is). And if it’s a romance, you’re bound to hear wedding bells — a Hollywood-made happy ending.
But today, in real life, wedding bells aren’t ringing all too often.
According to a Pew Research Center study, the number of “never married adults” is at a historic high. In fact, single people outnumber married people in the U.S. for the first time ever.
Why?
The study cites several reasons.
These statistics raise a couple of logical questions: “Is marriage a dying institution? And do we still need it?”
But today, in real life, wedding bells aren’t ringing all too often.
According to a Pew Research Center study, the number of “never married adults” is at a historic high. In fact, single people outnumber married people in the U.S. for the first time ever.
Why?
The study cites several reasons.
- People are marrying later in life (age 28 for women and 30 for men).
- Many couples are living together and raising kids outside of marriage.
- For some, “tying the knot” can be a frightening proposition, especially if their parents divorced.
- Today, a bewildering number of choices can lead to indecision. It used to be that you’d meet a potential spouse at school, church or around town. But now — with dating apps and social media — options are seemingly unlimited, so people may obsess about finding the “perfect” match.
These statistics raise a couple of logical questions: “Is marriage a dying institution? And do we still need it?”