In American society, marriage is an idea instilled in Americans since birth. Most people grow up in a society that points them towards marriage. Much of the media available to children presents the ideal picture of a family. To achieve this family one must get married. However, what marriage actually signifies and means appears to be changing over the past few decades.
The values of marriage have changed. This video points out that marriage in the 1950’s marked the first step into adulthood, while presently it often occurs well into adulthood. This is because people nowadays often want to be successful on their own before entering into a union with another person. Thus, marriage is an almost final achievement in ones adult life.
Status in sociology is defined as a named social position that people can occupy. Marriage is indicative of achieved status. Such a status is defined as achieved because it is based upon personal accomplishments. The video describes marriage as “almost the last merit badge you earn as an eagle scout, the marriage badge.”
Presently, however, the institution of marriage is suffering with high divorce rates. The video suggests that this can be attributed to marriage being viewed only as a status symbol. This is troublesome because people are only interested in getting married to show that they have “made it” in life and have achieved everything expected of them. This contributes to the high divorce rate because then people are only interested in the acquiring of this “marriage badge,” rather than a married life and end up being unsure of how to live their lives once married.
Americans might need to re-examine the values of marriage if marriages are to be successful. Marriage needs to be less about social status and more about the union of two people in love if it is to be successful.
As mentioned in the video, so much has changed since the 1950s. However, throughout the whole video I kept thinking about something that has changed dramatically- women’s rights. Decades earlier women were treated as unequals to men (although we still have a lot of work today, we’ve come along way). They were unable to vote in elections, get a higher education, serve in the military, obtain a position such as CEO of a well known business. Women were thought of as simple housewives who were to tend to their husband and children.
Today women are granted many more opportunities in life. Women have become a lot more liberated and we have succeeded to become quite close to equals to men. The idea of a free, young educated woman with so much to gain and offer society is a beautiful thing. One should always better themselves for the sake of society! Its no surprise that women want to feel accomplished and secure on their own before marriage. We’ve come along way!