Marriage: Is it relevant or nearing extinction?

relevant

1 of 7

by Elle P.C. Smith

• 

Write now Print Invite a writer™ Add to Favorites RSS Feed Contact this writer

The better question to ponder is "with the lack of stable marriages, is this what will ultimately be the reason behind our extinction?" While extinction is such a harsh term to use, the lack of stable marriages is leading to a national epidemic of teenage parents, uncared for youth, and a nation full of undereducated citizens who will have difficulty continuing this great country.

Marriage is defined as a legal or religious ceremony to recognize the decision between a man and a woman to live as husband and wife. The lack of this great union today has caused drastic changes in our country. One may ask, "Why is the success of someone's marriage relevant to society as a whole?" It is true that everyone has their own personal issues such as marriage to handle on their own. However, when debating the topic of the relevance of marriage one must look at the bigger picture. A major purpose of marriage is to procreate and begin a family. These children who are the products of a marriage are the future of this country. Children from broken homes lacking solid marriages are affecting every aspect of our nation. While no one will argue that certifiably a married couple can raise a child better than a single parent or unwed couple, statistically children greatly benefit from an intact familial unit.

With two married parents, a child has more educational and financial opportunities than that of a child in a single parent home. Statistically, children who are in single parent homes or a child of divorce are at risk. Nearly 2 of every 5 children in America do not live with their fathers[i]. Many researchers believe that this is the reason behind what is plaguing our country today. 63% of youth suicides are committed by adolescents from a fatherless home[ii]. 71% of all high school dropouts come from fatherless homes[iii]. More startling is the fact that 70% of juveniles in state operated institutions[iv] and 80% of rapists motivated with displaced anger come from fatherless homes[v]. These statistics are very telling. We as a nation have neglected the fact that children without married parents are not just possibly lacking love or the presence of their fathers, but are at risk for either hurting themselves or hurting others.

While marriage is not for everyone, we cannot allow ourselves to be living examples for youth if we decide to live out of wedlock or have children willingly as if there is no consequence. Performing many years of community service with at risk youth, I was privileged yet frightened to share their unique insight. Many of these children, through media and family, think that it is acceptable to have children purposely out of wedlock. What is worse is that there own parents have a multitude of children who are typically pawned off onto grandparents or family friends. While it is great to see close knit groups of people helping each other, it is disheartening to see that we have allowed our youth to see this as acceptable behavior.

Though it is not inevitable, it is estimated that as high as 75% of teen mothers had mothers who were pregnant as teenagers[vi]. The issue with teenage pregnancy is that these youths are not equipped to handle such a responsibility and the burden falls upon the state. According to The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy & Unplanned Pregnancy, this financial burden is estimated at $9.1 billion annually. This estimate only includes the directly associated costs with teen childbearing. With the United States having the highest teenage pregnancy rate amongst developed countries, this places us at a great disadvantage in the future if we continue on this path. Imagine if we as a nation could use those funds for universal collegiate education or healthcare which many of our developed counterparts have.

As children, we all imagined great stories and fantasies. Also as children, we have all had that pretend wedding or make believe husband or wife. While this is just child's play, this is what our children aspire to do with their lives as they grow into adults. Where have we lost our way? Marriage is relevant more than ever concerning the future of our children and of our nation. Without it, we shall surely fall.

[i] [US News and World Report, February 27, 1995, p.39]

[ii] [U. S. D.H.H.S. Bureau of the Census]

[iii] [National Principals Association Report on the State of High Schools]

[iv] [U.S. Dept. of Justice, Special Report, Sept., 1988]

[v] [Criminal Justice and Behavior, Vol. 14 p. 403-26]

[vi] Furstenberg, F.F., Levine, J.A. and Brooks-Gunn, J., "The Children of Teenage Mothers: Patterns of Early Childbearing in Two Generations," 1990.

Learn more about this author, Elle P.C. Smith.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.