Modern Concepts of Marriage Essay Example

Modern Concepts of Marriage A common scapegoat for the decline of the American family today is the failure of marriages and the resultant high percentage of divorce. The lack of marriage or the failure of marriages is not the problem with families today. Marriage, by definition is: the state of being united to a person of the opposite sex as husband or wife in a consensual and contractual relationship recognized by law (www.merriam-webster.com). It does not mean the people in the marriage have a good relationship, are good parents or even that they’re happy. Marriage is just a legal contract between two people proclaiming their relationship. Instead of all this speculation over what happened to marriage and how to bring back the “traditional marriage”, let’s concentrate on more important things. Being married does not fix the family, having interpersonal relationships, morals and good values will fix families. Families can be successful without marriage being involved. Two people who are in a relationship may decide not to participate in societies concept of marriage. This couple may want to cohabit, have children and share their lives. For many reasons they have decided to not get a piece of paper saying “their married”. Their relationship may last longer that most of the marriages of their friends. Their children can grow up feeling safe, secure and loved. Why does society insist that couples in long-term relationships get married? “In a society in which 90 percent of people get married sometime in their lives, lacking the desire to do so appears in the “barely acceptable” category” (Solot 490) Not being married can mean difficulty with landlords, rental cars, health insurance, medical decisions and wills. When over half of marriages end in divorce why is marriage holding such an important place in our society? The important thing in relationships and family is the commitment and quality, not a piece of paper. Traditional marriages go wrong