The Definition Of Marriage In The 1950's

American families of today are becoming increasingly different than their 1950’s counterparts. People married because they wanted a family and a home. Today, the definition of marriage seems much different than what it is used to be as more and more people seem to be in search of their ‘soulmate’. A vast majority of Americans understand that divorce rates are floating around the 50% mark and have been for quite some time now. With this harmful statistic, it is hard to imagine why marriage can even be considered a decent idea, and the truth is, sometimes it isn’t. Marriage is not meant for those who are just attracted to each other or for those who simply enjoy each other’s company. Marriage is a binding commitment between two people, offering

This notion that all marriages are practically doomed from the start allows people to see that successful marriages overcome the issues that coincide with marriage. It is clear that those who have successful marriages also have a mature sense of communication and problem solving and thus can provide a great foundation to their children. While not every marriage is perfect, if it is truly a binding commitment between two people, then those involved in the marriage as well as the family they produce, are better

Marriage, in general, does not automatically grant two people more opportunity and success. However, Stephanie Coontz, a family studies professor at Evergreen State College, states that strong marriages that can stand the test of time offer “economic, emotional, and even health benefits” (1). These benefits prove that married couples have the ability to offer each other more opportunities than those who are not. The advantages of marriage are a product of what marriage represents. Marriage is never perfect, and is not something that is easily done. It takes work, and sometimes people misunderstand their feelings and believe that marriage is right for them. Steven Pinker, author of “Crazy Love” states that “romantic infatuation is different from both raw lust and the enduring commitment that keeps lovers together” (1). Simply having the romantic feeling of love for someone else does not justify the act of marriage. People may not understand how marriage can offer benefits because they do not understand what marriage takes in order for it to work. Those who build everlasting relationships with one another understand how much devotion and endurance it takes in order to build a strong marriage, and therefore are able to strengthen other parts of their lives. The act of being