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Recently there is a debate over whether people should have marriage or not. Some people assert that “a wedding is an event and a marriage is an achievement.” (Kulman. 77) While other people believe that there is another alternative to marriage. In other words, marriage is not necessary. As a matter of fact, the issue of getting married is a complex and controversial process in people’s plan of life. Different people hold different views due to their distinct backgrounds. Therefore, there is not a universal answer to this question, and whether one choice takes precedence over the other may quite depend on the specific situation. The decision, nevertheless, is not an easy one to make. Actually, the final judgment should rely on a case-by-case analysis. However, the statement that marriage is not necessary nowadays will be greatly substantiated by the following discussions.
The first argument can be presented to develop my position is that there is disadvantage in marriage due to the fact that married couples with dual incomes have to pay more taxes than single taxpayer. (Kulman. 77) That is so-called marriage penalty. That is to say, if something is good or beneficial to people, the government will exercise some policies to promote it. Take cigarette for instance, the cigarette taxes in Pennsylvania is 31 cents per pack which is higher than the other commodities such as clothing and food which is tax-free. Why? The reason is that every time you buy a case of cigarette, the price includes the devotion to government funds specific to do health promotions for smoke-free.
By the same token, the government uses the higher rate in taxes to married couple. It means that marriage is so bad a concept that the government is against it by establishing the laws. Under this circumstance, it is obvious that marriage is an indifferent idea for people.
Besides, marriage and family were considered the significant part both for male and female in the past. However, in the present, there are more and more people make their decisions that marriage is not their priority in the future plan, even no longer an inevitable process during their lives. From the National Vital Statistics Report published on March 3, 2006, the number shows that the marriage rate is slipping from 7.8% to 7.4% during Year 2003 to 2005. (“Marriage” No.12) On the other hand, people are more cautious in moving forward to the next stage—marriage--than before and also think that the concept of non-marriage is an aberrant behavior in the society. People are inclined to accept it. Hence, another equally important aspect is that they will avoid wedlock because of any reason they have.
Since more and more people received education, especially for female, the labor force participation rate of female has risen steadily. (Gavin 93) The situation improves the financial dependence of female on male. As a result, an increasing rate of divorce reveals proves that the perceptions of marriage are changing. Females do not rely on male and seek for the security of economic through marriage system. With the transformation of the society, the idea of marriage is detaching the security in finance and people shift their life style to delay or avoid marriage.
The third argument is from the perspective of spiritual life. It is about the point of the statement about that marriage can make people healthy is due to the fact that there is a life partner relationship or close partnership among people. Marriage is not the panacea for happiness and health. There is nothing you can depend on except yourself. Marriage is just an acknowledgment and validation of a given relationship by the state. (Parrenas. 29) It is an announcement that you can have a legal right to build the family and be protected by laws if there is other interference threatening this system. Consequently, for the preceding reasons, non-marriage status is becoming a trend nowadays.
Admittedly, it may be true that marriage is important in some conditions. However, this statement alone does not constitute a sufficient support to claim that everyone should stay in marital state. To sum up, when the advantages and disadvantages of the concept of marriage in modern society are carefully examined, the most striking conclusion is obvious that it is not needed to get married in the present and future.
References
Carolyn E. Cutrona. “A Psychological Perspective: Marriage and the Social Provisions of Relationships.” Journal of Marriage and Family, November 2004, Vol.66：992-999
Frank Furstenberg. “Can Marriage Be Saved?” Politics of the Family, Summer 2005, Vol. 52：76-80
Gavin W. Jones. “The Flight from Marriage in South-East and East Asia.” Journal of Comparative Family Studies. Winter 2005, Vol. 36：93-119
“In Health” Economist, April 1st 2006, Vol. 378：48
Juno Parrenas. “Love and Marriage.” Lesbian News, April 2003, Vol. 28：29
Linda Kulman. “Get Married.” U.S. News and World Report; Jan. 2005, Vol. 137：77
Susan Crompton. “Always the Bridesmaid: People Who Don’t Expect to Marry.” Canadian Social Trends, Summer 2005, No.11-008：2-8
Sutton PD, Munson ML. Births. “Marriages, Divorces, and Deaths: Provisional data for August 2005.” National Vital Statistics Reports; March 2006, Vol. 54, No 12.
The first argument can be presented to develop my position is that there is disadvantage in marriage due to the fact that married couples with dual incomes have to pay more taxes than single taxpayer. (Kulman. 77) That is so-called marriage penalty. That is to say, if something is good or beneficial to people, the government will exercise some policies to promote it. Take cigarette for instance, the cigarette taxes in Pennsylvania is 31 cents per pack which is higher than the other commodities such as clothing and food which is tax-free. Why? The reason is that every time you buy a case of cigarette, the price includes the devotion to government funds specific to do health promotions for smoke-free.
By the same token, the government uses the higher rate in taxes to married couple. It means that marriage is so bad a concept that the government is against it by establishing the laws. Under this circumstance, it is obvious that marriage is an indifferent idea for people.
Besides, marriage and family were considered the significant part both for male and female in the past. However, in the present, there are more and more people make their decisions that marriage is not their priority in the future plan, even no longer an inevitable process during their lives. From the National Vital Statistics Report published on March 3, 2006, the number shows that the marriage rate is slipping from 7.8% to 7.4% during Year 2003 to 2005. (“Marriage” No.12) On the other hand, people are more cautious in moving forward to the next stage—marriage--than before and also think that the concept of non-marriage is an aberrant behavior in the society. People are inclined to accept it. Hence, another equally important aspect is that they will avoid wedlock because of any reason they have.
Since more and more people received education, especially for female, the labor force participation rate of female has risen steadily. (Gavin 93) The situation improves the financial dependence of female on male. As a result, an increasing rate of divorce reveals proves that the perceptions of marriage are changing. Females do not rely on male and seek for the security of economic through marriage system. With the transformation of the society, the idea of marriage is detaching the security in finance and people shift their life style to delay or avoid marriage.
The third argument is from the perspective of spiritual life. It is about the point of the statement about that marriage can make people healthy is due to the fact that there is a life partner relationship or close partnership among people. Marriage is not the panacea for happiness and health. There is nothing you can depend on except yourself. Marriage is just an acknowledgment and validation of a given relationship by the state. (Parrenas. 29) It is an announcement that you can have a legal right to build the family and be protected by laws if there is other interference threatening this system. Consequently, for the preceding reasons, non-marriage status is becoming a trend nowadays.
Admittedly, it may be true that marriage is important in some conditions. However, this statement alone does not constitute a sufficient support to claim that everyone should stay in marital state. To sum up, when the advantages and disadvantages of the concept of marriage in modern society are carefully examined, the most striking conclusion is obvious that it is not needed to get married in the present and future.
References
Carolyn E. Cutrona. “A Psychological Perspective: Marriage and the Social Provisions of Relationships.” Journal of Marriage and Family, November 2004, Vol.66：992-999
Frank Furstenberg. “Can Marriage Be Saved?” Politics of the Family, Summer 2005, Vol. 52：76-80
Gavin W. Jones. “The Flight from Marriage in South-East and East Asia.” Journal of Comparative Family Studies. Winter 2005, Vol. 36：93-119
“In Health” Economist, April 1st 2006, Vol. 378：48
Juno Parrenas. “Love and Marriage.” Lesbian News, April 2003, Vol. 28：29
Linda Kulman. “Get Married.” U.S. News and World Report; Jan. 2005, Vol. 137：77
Susan Crompton. “Always the Bridesmaid: People Who Don’t Expect to Marry.” Canadian Social Trends, Summer 2005, No.11-008：2-8
Sutton PD, Munson ML. Births. “Marriages, Divorces, and Deaths: Provisional data for August 2005.” National Vital Statistics Reports; March 2006, Vol. 54, No 12.
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