PUBLIC OPINION > Marriage Is Still Relevant
SodaHead News
2011/12/16 18:00:00
Marriage rates in the U.S. have been declining for some time now, but they've dropped significantly in just the last couple of years. Between 2009 and 2010, rates dropped 5%. Between 1960 and 2010, rates dropped from 72% to 51%. If the rates continued to drop through 2011, that means fewer than half of American adults are married. But is that a reflection of marriage, or of our culture? Have we outgrown the institution, or are we losing touch? We handed the question over to SodaHeads to see what they thought.
Marriage Rates in Steep Decline: Is Marriage Outdated?
76% Still Have Faith in Marriage
Despite the harrowing statistics, most respondents still think the institution of marriage is relevant today. Just because marriage rates are declining doesn't mean marriage is any less important. Maybe it says more about our culture than marriage itself. The Top Opinion read, "Marriage will never be outdated. People are just less committed and that is obvious in practically every walk of life." That could very well be the case. But just to be sure, let's break it down.
Post-Marital Progressives
There were only two demographics that showed a severe mistrust of marriage, and progressives were one of them, with just 38% of them backing the institution. Even liberal voters had more faith than that -- 27% more. Conservatives showed the most support (94%).
Atheists Against Marriage
The only other large group that sided against marriage was atheists. They weren't as adamant as progressives, but only 43% felt marriage was still relevant. Agnostics actually showed quite a bit of support (77%), and Christians were way up there with conservatives.
Singles Are Skeptical
The last demographic we want to touch on is the most relevant: relationship status. Married voters, naturally, threw all of their weight into backing the institution (94%), but single voters showed some hesitation (71%). But the divorcee votes caught us by surprise; more than two-thirds of them still believe in marriage.
If you'd like to vote on this question, dig deeper into the demographics, or engage in existing discussion about the topic, visit our original poll about marriage rates. We'd love to hear from you!
Oh, and BTW, convex, divorce is not kicking marriage in the teeth:
That's from 2004 and divorces have gone down a little bit since in the States.
As a Canadian atheist, I am happily married. My wedding ceremony, and my marriage, had/have nothing to do with religion. Marriage predates religion (including Christianity, obviously), and will outlast religion (including Christianity). The concept of "common-law marriage" exists in Canadian law, and is essentially a throw-back to our medieval ancestors. When two people live together and have children together, they are married. Personally I think that should be recognised with either a party or a formal declaration to a government registry; but I appreciate not wanting to throw a party if it's your second time, or you can't afford to.
Gosh, what a charming way to insult me. Piss off.
Tell me, how does marriage affect any relationship nowadays? It doesn't add love, respect, understanding, commitment, etc. It's just a piece of paper that the government acknowledges that two people are a couple. I do not want the government involved in my private life.
I don't want to get old alone. Who does want it?
Marriage is about shared property rights and parental responsibility. The rest of it is just magical thinking and mythological traditions that are unique to individuals, and have no justification for being codified into secular law.
Should married people who DON'T produce children be jailed?
The base responsibilities - those which effect society, progeny and property - are and should be state recorded and enforced contracts. But the personal and individual relationship dynamics are up to the couple involved - and are nobody else's business, as long as they fulfill society's obligations.