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Topic:   Love, Dating, Marriage

Article 2 (American English)

Unmarried Households the Norm

For the first time in U.S. history, traditional marriage isn't the preferred living choice in most households.  Marriage isn't dead, but data released in August indicated that more than half of American family households weren't married.  That figure, 56.8 million, or 50.2 percent of the total, is a sharp drop from six years ago.  In 2000, married couples made up 52 percent of the 105.5 million households.

Single women headed more than 14 million households, and another 5 million by single men.  Most interesting, or alarming, depending on your point of view, were the large number of "non-family households."  This term mostly refers to gay or heterosexual couples living together out of formal wedlock.

The shift could mark drastic changes in every part of American life, from family law to national politics with its emphasis on family values.  In the short term, however, it indicates the failed efforts of President Bush and his allies, despite their push in the past five years for traditional marriage and families.  The tax breaks, special legislation, and church-sponsored campaigns are bearing little fruit.

Douglas Beshavor, a sociologist with the American Enterprise Institute, suggested that short-term relationships and unmarried couples living together would dominate American life for years to come.  As a result, people will find themselves more alone than ever before.  Both parents will be working, so there will be fewer siblings, cousins, aunts, and uncles.  America will move towards a much more individualistic society.

"Change is in the air," he said.  "The only question is whether it is catastrophic or just evolutionary."

Questions

1. Do you think the drop in marriage rates is a temporary trend in America, or is it here to stay?  Why?
2. How many people do you know are unhappily married?  What advice would you give them?
3. Do you think marriage rates all over the world will eventually go down?  Why/not?
4. Why do you think Bush's policies haven't changed anything in America?
5. Would you recommend to young people nowadays to live together first, as a test to see if they can spend the rest of their lives together?  Why/not?

Do you agree or disagree? Why?

1. Marriage has been an important part of society, is important now, and will continue to be important in the future.

2. Marriage is old fashioned.  To be single and to have short-term relationships is best.
3. There is little reason to get married if a couple is already living together (i.e., the mystery of marriage is gone).
4. Children need to have contact with their extended family of cousins, aunts, uncles, etc.
5. It's wrong, disgusting, and/or sinful for an unmarried couple to live together.