Is There a Necessity for Marriage at This Time and Age

Is there a necessity for marriage in this time and age?
A marriage is arguably losing its appeal as claimed by many. It is now likely to become one of the lifestyle choices. Cohabitation too, although once considered as a “testing ground” for future marriage, leads to unstable marital status in the long term. Factors which contribute to the failure of marriages are lack of commitment, value change and emancipitation of women.
Marriage is an important institution of society, whether in the past or today. It is a ‘contract’ between two people to live their lives together as well as share weal and woe. Such relationships can be likened to the characteristics of glue. It keeps families together and builds societies. Thus, if people get married without the commitment of living together permanently, the marriage will be a mockery.
However, the term ‘marriage’ is redefined by recent statistics. Research suggests that the institution of wedlock gradually becomes unpopular. Among young people aged 18 to 24, only 9 percent were married in 2010, plummeting from fifty years earlier, when the number was 45 percent. Among the next older group of adults, aged 25 to 34, 44 percent were married last year -- just over half the percentage in 1960, 82 percent. These are among the findings in a new Pew Research Center analysis, based on U.S. Census Bureau data.
An argument in which marriage may be unnecessary is mainly because of its high divorce rates. Modern civilisation leads to individualistic cultures among many citizens. It is common to see now in which couples pay people to do the things they used to accomplish in a partnership. Restaurants and fast food outlets, once relegated to special family outings, are now a major source of sustenance. There are agencies that will cater "home-cooked meals" to family or have them all set for pick-up. Additionally, tedious household chores like cleaning toilets are performed by mostly maids. Children are being sent to “day-care centres” too. These cause a lack of commitment for both partners to achieve an ideal home together.
Secondly, it is the value change of the younger generations which contributes to low statistics of marriages. The shrinking of religious beliefs encourage more tolerance towards anti social behavior. As younger people are more secularised, they came to cherish individual freedom of choices as opposed to existing institution. Hence, the growth of extra-marital sex, abortion and divorce accelerate due to their individual rights for self-actualisation.
Another vital point to be made is that women are retreating from marriage as they go into the workplace. This is especially common in Asia as the chances for women both being employed and married are not as much as in Asia. Women are viewed as the primary caregivers for husbands, children and, often, for ageing parents; and even when they have their careers, they are expected to continue to play this significant role. Therefore it is noticeable that there is enormous stress on the shoulders of Asian women. According to a National Survey in Japan, Japanese women, who typically work 40 hours a week in the office, then do, on average, another 30 hours of housework. Their husbands, on average, do three hours. Not surprisingly, Asian women have a pessimistic view of marriage.
In contrast to the previous points, a solid family with certificate of marriage gives status for children who then have no need to turn to junevile deliquents, to feel accepted. Within a traditional family the identity of a child is able to develop. Identity is essential for vision, growth, and unity. Without correct identity, nations and communities cannot progress or develop unity because there are so many different identities and no common cause. Marriage is perhaps not outdated because we still see unity today and must see it in the future.
It is imperative to note that marriage symbolises a loving committed relationship. Couples should lay out a foundation to tie their knots together to realise that support, trust and commitment are more important. It is not advisable for couples to live in a more relaxed and irresponsible relationship when as parents they have child’s welfare to worry about.
Based on the above discussions, I agree to a great extent that there is utmost necessity for marriage in this time and age. After all, a great marriage is not when the 'perfect couple' comes together. It is when an imperfect couple learns to enjoy their differences. Perhaps a form of revolution may bring us to have happy anticipation towards marriages.