by Contributor
(Oct. 7, 2021) — Some millennials delay their marriage. Some do not want to get married at all. Why? Here are some reasons they refuse to tie the knot.
Some say you have to get married when you’re in your late twenties. Others say in your early thirties. But millennials have a different say on marriage compared to older generations.
In a study conducted by Pew Research Center, only3 in 10 millennials live with a family of their own. This means only a small percentage are living in a house with their spouse and child. Compared to the 7 in 10 from the silent generation who are living with a family on their own in their 20s and 30s.
According to the data, 1 in 10 millennials are living alone. Meanwhile, more than half of the millennial population are not married. But those who are already married chose to delay their marriage.
Analysts see a shift in marriage views among the younger generations. This shift is evident in how they delay their marriage and how some choose not to marry. Some even think that marriage is not a necessity but only a social construct society forces on people.
What could be their reasons? Why is it more likely for millennials to say “I don’t” rather than “I do”? Here are some possible reasons:
Career Advancement
One survey says 40% of working millennials have chosen to remain single to focus on their careers. Some are even working more hours on side jobs and do not have time for love. In the same survey, more than two in five working millennials are willing to break up with their partner if it meant work promotion.
This shows how career-oriented and competitive millennials are at work. They see relationships and marriage as a hindrance to their career advancement.
Fear of Divorce
According to 2018 government data, authorities recorded more than 782,038 divorces and annulments in the United States.
Millennials are known to be competitive. They tend to fear failure, and they see divorce as a potential failure that they are not willing to go through. They also do not want to go through the hassle of filing for divorce, from hiring a divorce lawyer to attending hearings in court.
So either they choose not to marry at all or delay their marriage until they find the person they are 100 percent sure of marrying.
Financial Insecurity
To some millennials, marriage is a roadblock to their financial independence. They believe wedding ceremonies are expensive. They see marriage as costly because you have to build your house. Millennials know that couples should be financially ready before getting married.
They also do not like the idea of merging their finances with their spouse. To them, this could lead to potential financial issues. They believe that by staying single, they can manage their finances. Those who want to marry wait until they achieve financial stability before they say their I do’s.
Value for Independence
The term YOLO isn’t popular to millennials for nothing. “You only live once,” so they believe they have to live their lives to the fullest.
Some millennials think that marriage will keep them from doing the things they want. Settling down and starting a family will prevent them from pursuing their passion. It is a dead end that will keep them from achieving their lifelong dreams. They believe that they will be stuck to tending to their family and have no time to do the things they enjoy. This is why some delay their marriage up to their 40s and beyond when they’ve already done everything in life.
Furthermore, they feel like they do not need anybody with whom to live life. They think they need nobody else but themselves.
Just a Social Construct
Some millennials do not believe in social institutions. They feel like they are being restricted and dictated upon by social constructs. They want to break away from social norms and live their life the way they want them. To them, marriage is one of these constructs. They believe they don’t have to adhere to whatever society is dictating them.
While there are many personal reasons millennials opt not to get married, their focus is themselves. They want to feel financially secure or have done all that life has brought them.
Marriage is always a decision. It is your choice when you are ready or not. Millennials believe no one has to pressure them to get married by their age or when their friends are already building their families. You also don’t have to get married if you do not want to. At the end of the day, you are going to live and manage your life. Feel free to follow your heart.