Find out what does marriage means in 21st century

Marriage... Throughout mankind history, the meaning of marriage has changed. The way people look at marriage in the 1800's, for example, is very different than the way people in the 21st century look at it or feel about it. 

A marriage is commonly defined as  "an agreement between two people", that hasn't changed throughout the centuries. In the olden days, people didn't marry for love. It was considered a childish notion and inappropriate; it wasn't until the 1920's that love entered in the equation. 

Back then, marriage was basically an arrangement, in most cases made by the parents, and sometimes it was forced. People got married for reasons like loneliness, or to gain a financial advantage (maybe they needed a goat or a cow), or to strengthen a political position. Women didn't have a say or any rights, they were considered the husband's property. So basically marriage wasn't a bed of roses.

In the 21st-century marriage isn't a priority. Young people now prioritize education, ambitions, and career over finding love and getting married. Marriage today is an equal act where love plays a central part and most importantly it's a choice.

Another big difference is the definition and responsibilities of a wife. In the past, to a woman, getting married meant that her ambitions (like a higher education and a career outside the home) no longer existed, she had to sacrifice them to become a doting wife, homemaker, and mother. Today women can do both things, they can manage a home and pursue careers and ambitions.

Now if you are getting married you need to seek information about what does it actually means to be legally married. Have you thought about that?

Marriage represents a lifetime commitment between two partners. Besides being a union of love, marriage is a legal contract that confers special rights and responsibilities to the individuals involved. For example, married individuals are not bound by hospital visitation restrictions and are eligible for certain survivor benefits in case one of the couple dies. 

Regarding property and assets, who owns what property in a marriage? It will depend on whether you live or got married in a common law property state or in a community property state. In a common law state, for example, if the wife acquires a property during the marriage, she owns it completely and solely. In a community property, all assets or property acquired during the marriage are owned by both spouses 50/50.

There are legal benefits in a marriage: legal decision- making benefits (if a spouse becomes sick, for example); inheritance benefits (a spouse can inherit an estate without taxes consequences).

Remember to always seek advice from a legal expert, that way you'll enter the marriage knowing all your rights and obligations.

What does marriage mean to you? Have you asked yourself that, or have you asked the question to a friend or family? A very personal and sometimes hard question to answer, right? It's a question rarely ponder and you don't always have an immediate answer.

Marriage means different things to different people. The different points of view are colored by the person's family background, religion, and moral views. Or sometimes the answer depends on previous experiences, past relationships, or a divorce experience. Also, it will depend on whether you or your friend or family, are single, in a relationship or are actually married.

Some single people hate the idea of marriage because they think that it will be the end of their ambitions, goal, and dreams. Some people in relationships think that marriage is the best, and they can't wait until they're married to share everything with the love of their lives. And some married people, think that marriage is a burden and something they have to put up or just settled.

But, you'll also find that for some people marriage is having someone always on your side, is being part of a team. It's two people with different points of view, who respect each other and know how to compromise. It's having someone cheering you up when you're down and sharing the good and the bad.

Marriage is an adventure, and it's a choice, and it's building a life together. It's forming a family and never being alone because you have someone to share all of it.

Do you have an answer now? 

Commitment is a word that suggests (or should) a strong sense of intention and focus. So a committed relationship should be a serious one, where each part of the couple make an agreement to stay together and do all that is necessary to make the relationship work.

Commitment is a concept that has changed throughout times. Couples in the 20th century and before were willing to be in committed relationships. It was one of their goals, find someone to marry and have a family. It's something they sought.

Commitment in the 21st century is a lip service, young people say they want a committed relationship, but they don't actually work on it. The dating scene nowadays doesn't allow for a committed relationship to blossom. People have a bunch of personal interactions dominated by pleasure in which the concept of relationship is anything but serious.

The thing is that people in a relationship make promises about behavior or outcomes, like love, happiness, and fidelity but they ignore the actions to achieve those behaviors or outcomes. It's like committing to be an A student but then spending your days doing everything but studying, Some say commitment is like a race, you have to train for it.

It's true that commitment is not a guarantee of fidelity, so, is it worth it? Some say that it is. Committed couples feel less trapped in their marriages because it's a choice they work on and are more satisfied with their relationships because they have a team purpose.

Having a committed relationship in the 21st century could be hard to achieve, but not impossible if you really know what you want and how to get it.
 

As we said before, marriage is a journey. This journey could be filled with sad and trying moments but also with happy and fun ones. Maybe right now you need some inspiration about marriage, Take a look at these quotes, some may not be from this century but they are timeless.

To remind you that marriage is a choice, there's a quote from Barbara De Angelis:

If you choose to be happy in your marriage then you have to work to accomplish that.

"Happily ever after is not a fairy tale, it's a choice." -Fawn Weaver. If you choose to be happy in your marriage then you have to work to accomplish that.

Here is a funny quote by Henry Youngman, but take notice because it is important if you want a lasting marriage.

Remember that even though you're a team, you are individuals too.

People in the 21st century seem to wait a little bit more to get married. According to a Pew Research, back in 1960's women got married at 21 and men at 23. Now, that age range has increased and the average woman waits until she's 27 or nearing 30, and men wait until they're in their 30's. 

This younger generation waits until they have finished a higher education, like law school or medical school to get married. This could be for economic reasons. In uncertain markets, young people in their 20's or early 30's preferred to secure their education and career instead of securing a partner.

The ages mentioned before are an average and it's not the same in every state. For example, In Utah, people get married a couple of years after high school graduation. But in New York, people wait until they're in their 30's.

It's a reality that throughout the ages the concept of marriage has changed. One of the biggest and most positive changes was that it became a choice between two people who wanted to spend a lifetime together.

Young people may be waiting a little more to get married, but marriage is still on their plans.