Why Get Married? The Short Answer

If you’re single, you’re making history.

There have never EVER been so many unmarried people in America.

Back in 1960, about 3 in 4 adults was married. Today, that’s down to just 1 in 2.

If you’re single, you’re no longer the odd woman out.

Which raises the question…

Why get married at all?

We don’t have to marry to live a good life. Single women are often healthier—and even happier!—than married women.^[1][2] You can enjoy all the benefits of romance and companionship without tying the knot.

If you look at the history of marriage, you see an institution that hasn’t been great for women. It wasn’t all that long ago that women couldn’t get credit or own property unless it was in her husband’s name.

Surely marriage is best confined to the dust heap?

But there’s life in marriage just yet. There is a point to getting married—as long as you’re not doing it for love.

Here are 3 reasons marriage still matters.

#1. Legal Recognition of Your Partnership

At its core, marriage is a legal contract. Historically, it’s been a legal contract much MUCH longer than it’s been a celebration of love.

Once you’re married, the law treats you as a team. You get advantages when it comes to taxes, health insurance, getting credit, all sorts of things. If one of you dies unexpectedly, the survivor is protected.

None of those things may seem romantic, but they’re at the heart of what marriage is.

#2. Community Recognition of Your Partnership

Historically, weddings were performed for the community as much as the couple.

The marriage ceremony was the public affirmation of a couple’s commitment. It was an opportunity for families to come together and make alliances.

You don’t need a wedding to commit to the man you love. But if you want that commitment formally recognized by your community and families, the best way to do that is through marriage.

#3. The Symbolism

Whether you’re religious or not, there’s no question that marriage has a heavy symbolic weight.

It won’t protect you from breaking up, but it will change your relationship. Those words “husband and wife” are very, very different to “boyfriend and girlfriend.” When you’re ready to carry the weight of those words, you’ll know.

Marriage will always have its place, as long as you realize it has little to do with questions like how much you love each other and how committed you are.

Don’t marry someone just because you love them. Don’t marry someone just because that’s what you do after you’ve been together for so long. Marry someone because you’ve thought through the way marriage will change your life, and it’s a choice you’re ready to make.

[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28072926
[2] https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/may/25/women-happier-without-children-or-a-spouse-happiness-expert