Not ALL Women Want To Get Married, And Here Are 3 Good Reasons Why

2015 has been an interesting year for relationships. In June, America celebrated same-sex marriage with colorful parades and joyous thunder. Caitlyn Jenner has brought attention to transgender adversities including the dangers transgender dating entails. With all the progressive ideas turning into reality, one common tradition seems to be at a staggering halt. A lot of women don’t want to get married. Not even Oprah. Why?

According to the U.S. Census Bureau of 2013, 53% of women over 18 are in the singles column. It is more common for women to cohabitate with their boyfriends before tying the knot. A study shows between 2006 and 2010, 48% of women between the ages of 15 and 44 moved in for the first time with a man to whom they weren’t married. Many women, and perhaps men, agree it is safer to “test the waters” before making a legal and public declaration. Many couples believe living together is “like being married” minus that one piece of paper. Why are more women okay with not getting married?

1. The Pressure Is Too Real

One reason couples delay or refuse marriage is because of societal pressures. Many couples don’t want to feel pressure from their families to rush into marriage because it’s coined as, “the right thing to do”. When asked, “why aren’t you married?” many young people say, “they haven’t found the right one yet” or feel “not ready financially” to be married. According to a USA Today article, the number of marriages from 2007 to 2009 decreased from 2. 197 million to 2.080 and that more than 175,000 weddings have been postponed or forgone. Even the diamond business is feeling a negative impact due to low demand. The millennial generation, (1980-2000), seems to be breaking the mold of old traditions and are building new norms. According to Pew Research Center study, 17% of women will never get married and 23% of men will never marry. The number continues to grow each year.

2. Grown Ass Women Status

Another reason couples don’t wed is because of their growing careers. A third of working women now out-earn their partners because more women are attending college. According to a Pew Research Center analysis, 71% of young women were enrolled in college immediately after high school whereas only 61% of young men were enrolled. Many women have more job opportunities because of their degrees and yet educated women are still okay with living with their boyfriend’s before marriage. According to the U.S. Census study, 53% of women with a bachelor’s degree or higher had transitioned from living together to marriage by the three-year mark, whereas 30% of women with less than a high school degree had married by then. Relying on a man for financial support has decreased because women are able to maintain stable careers. Go ‘head girl!

3. You Don’t Need A Ring To Procreate

According to the CDC, 1,595,873 unmarried women had live births in 2013. Today, there are many ways to have babies without being married including IVF, Adoption (for heterosexual and homosexual couples), becoming an egg/sperm donor, and freezing your eggs! Having a baby out of wedlock is more socially acceptable due to entertainment. A lot of popular shows including Friends, Teen Mom, and Keeping Up With The Kardashians support unwed mothers. Many millenniums are okay with having children before tying the knot.

Cheers to the ladies who want to move in with their boyfriend’s before marriage because it seems to be the logical move. Move over 1950s, hello 2015!