Love and Marriage

Archaic institution some may say. But, do you have to be ancient in age to participate?

Marriages right out of college have a very low success rate. Some only last two to three years before divorce. In a study done in 2003 from Cognitive Therapy Associates (CTA), focusing on NYU students marry right out of college, CTA statistically shows it doesn’t work.

According to the study most of these young marriages end due to the start of a new career and stress.

Dr. Conner who ran this study, found that “students who marry while in school may be missing out on some experiences that would enhance their life experience and maturity”.

So, it would appear we won’t be getting married in our mid-20s like Mom and Dad did. I hope women’s biological clocks can keep up with this new change.

Let’s face it, the balance of finding love, a career, and creating a family is no easy feat.

It’s best said by Steve Watters of Boundless Webzine, “There was a time when weddings followed quickly on the heels of graduation”.

Watters is convinced that no matter what other factors can destroy a young marriage, it will always come down to the guy not being mature enough.

Men do not face as many pressures as women do from society, tradition or employers. Boys will simply be boys and enjoy single life as long as possible.

Maybe expectations that both the man and woman have are too high and our needs seem insatiable.

Watters says “Expectations for a marriage partner are now through the roof”.

The bar is too high, stressful situations and family matters can destroy a marriage, but yet even with the divorce rate so high we still want to get married.

Arranged marriages are very successful. An article from Newsplex shows the success behind the arranged marriage and the failings behind the traditional American marriage. Is it that we aren’t supposed to marry for love because it is not logical or simply because love and marriage weren’t supposed to coincide.

There are so many factors to both the recipe of perfection and disaster of a marriage.

No matter the age, maturity, lack or over abundance of love I’m still willing to take the risk.