In today's world, marriage isn't what it used to be. People were getting married in their teenage years back in the early 1900's, settling down, and having children. Things aren't exactly like that anymore.
The American population is living longer, female empowerment has grown, and honestly the need for marriage isn't as strong as it once was. Many people are having children out of wedlock, and they're perfectly happy. Those who do get married often get divorced. In 2016 it was actually estimated that 40-50% of married ended in divorce. Of course divorces can happen for many reasons like cheating, fighting, financial trouble, etc.
I personally have never been sold on the concept of marriage. There is of course a lot that plays into marriage. You have to decide if it is right for you. It scares me to think that I could put myself in a "legal contract" to someone who could potentially not be in my life a few years from now. Or that maybe my husband won't want me to work and stay at home with our children. Do I even want children? Quit my job that I've worked so hard for? Then I'd have to get a nanny if I didn't quit? Do I want someone else raising my hypothetical children? What do I want? These questions...honestly...don't have to be answered just yet. We have time, and that's the best gift of all.
I am a huge fan of the tv show Sex and the City, and when I saw Samantha Jones view on relationships and life, I really loved it. Samantha wasn't afraid to be alone. She was an extremely wealthy business woman who always had an amazing fashion sense, an amazing house, sex appeal, and amazing boyfriends. She was glamour and wealth, and she didn't need a man to prove those things. I found her character to be extremely empowering, and honestly that was when I first began to think, maybe...just maybe I don't need to get married.
It's of course not that I hate marriage, I wouldn't mind marrying someone who I'm madly in love with, but all I am saying is a woman can hold her own now. We can be successful and not need a man and I love that. It is empowering to have a choice to do whatever I want with my relationship status.
I think it's TV shows like Sex and the City that prove to females everywhere that men are nice to have in our lives, but they aren't a necessity. Marriage isn't a necessity for us all. My plan is to do it all on my own and if I meet someone amazing who adds to it then that's perfect. For females, we have options now and that just rocks.
