Traditional Matrimony

Paper Summary:

This paper examines how, over the past four decades, the nation's marriage rate has dropped significantly, how many marriages in the United States now end in divorce, and how the number of households with unmarried couples has risen dramatically. It contends that whether it be same-sex marriage, cohabitation, remaining single, or even simply delaying marriage - whatever the case may be, it is evident that marriage as it once was in the United States is no longer.

From the Paper:

"First, what exactly is marriage? Marriage has meant very different things in different places at different times. The idea of choosing a mate or "marrying for love" became commonplace in the 18th and 19th centuries and only in some cultures (Masci, 2004). Marriages are still arranged by families throughout much of Asia, Africa, and the Middle East today. Moreover polygamy - long rejected by Western cultures - is common in many Muslim countries and various ethnic groups. Still there have been some constants, especially here in the United States. For instance, until recently, most people saw marriage as a necessary rite of passage into adulthood, rather than a choice (Masci, 2004). Furthermore, definitions of marriage were - and to some degree still are - largely dictated by the Judeo-Christian ethic, which sees marriage as a permanent, unbreakable union between a man and a woman. "

Sample of Sources Used:

• Ayoub, C. (n.d.). Bob Dylan Lyrics. Retrieved November 12, 2008, from http://www.bobdylanlyrics.net.
• Masci, D. (2004). Future of marriage. CQ Researcher, 14, 397-420. Retrieved September 19, 2008, from CQ Researcher Online, http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre2004050700.
• Lamanna, M.A., & Riedmann, A. (2006). "Nonmarital Living-Arrangements: Living Alone, Cohabitations, Same-Sex Couples, and Other Options ." Pp 184 - 205 in Marriages and Families: Making Choices in a Diverse Society.
• Popenoe, D. (2007). National Marriage Project. Retrieved November 10, 2008, from http://marriage.rutgers.edu.
• U.S. Census Bureau. (2000). Census 2000 Summary File 3. Retrieved November 10, 2008, from http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet.

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