Re:The Never Married, a New Normal
by fuzzfactor on Monday May 29, 2023 @12:06PM
(#36115217)
>together for almost 20 years, but we've only been married for 2.
This is the way.
When a relationship has been proven for a decade or more, then marriage can be contemplated more realistically.
> When a relationship has been proven for a decade or more, then marriage can be contemplated more realistically.
This sounds good but the data seem to contradict you[0]. It's been known for a long time that people living together are more likely to get a divorce. This study is about re-evaluating if it's still true. All in all, the person you are responding to (and maybe you?) are more likely the exception rather than the norm. But to what extent the exception? 2 years is a pretty short time frame, only time will tell.
0: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/jomf.12530?a...
As you suggest at the end, this is very much your personal view.
My wife and I have been together for almost 20 years, but we've only been married for 2. Our commitment didn't change due to marriage. The only thing that changed was that things got easier from a legal perspective. We no longer need to worry about wills in the case that one of us dies, and we can make medical decisions on behalf of each other if necessary.
I suspect that for many people who don't have a religious desire to marry, marriage won't affect their level of commitment. I think this is supported by how often people get divorced.