How marriage has changed: From the past to #TheModernMarriage

0
650

Nowadays, marriage isn’t quite as straightforward as it was fifty years ago. Back then, people got married, and then had children, who also got married.

But there are so many people getting divorced, getting re-married, and having kids without being married, that families have become much more nuclear. And so #TheModernMarriage is introduced.

This is how some people end up with aunties or uncles younger than them, or step- and half-siblings all conjoined into one big extended family.

The biggest change to #TheModernMarriage was the legalisation of same-sex marriage within England, Scotland and Wales in 2014. More than 15,000 same-sex marriages took place in the 12 months after it was legalised. These same-sex couples might then choose to have children, via adoption or any other method that is available today.

It does seem that people are getting married for different reasons now, compared to the generations of our grandparents, or even our parents. In a survey undertaken by Slater and Gordon, they found that out of 2,000 people surveyed, 69% said they got married as a way of committing to their relationship. I’m sure our grandparents would agree with that.

However, some of the other reasons were a little more obscure, including increasing financial security, or because of their religion. A huge 13% believed there was no benefit of walking down the isle.

In this modern age, cohabitation is the chosen route, without getting married. More and more couples are living together as married, 14% according to the survey.

But there are nearly as many getting divorced as are getting married. Just over half declared that they knew a close family member who has been divorced, and just under half knew of a close friend who had been through a breakup. Slatergordon.co.uk/family-and-personal-matters/ can help with any family or personal matters, be it divorce or other family issues. Being divorced is much less of a taboo than it was thirty years ago, so more people are doing it.

I’m sure you’ve attended a few weddings in your time, but how about a divorce party? Divorces are something that are now being celebrated rather than condemned.

Do you know anyone who has had a divorce party? Let us know in the comments!