Marriage \"Enormous Changes Have Occurred

Marriage

"Enormous changes have occurred in family life not only in the United States but also throughout the Western world in the past half century," (Cherlin, 2010, p. 15). Moreover, the changes have manifested differently in Western Europe vs. The United States. These differences are related to culture, values, and social norms. Religion has become more integrated, ironically, into modern American lifestyles compared with Europe, where religious affiliation and religious values have declined steadily in recent generations (Cherlin, 2010). The greater interest in religion has prompted resurgence in interest in the institution of marriage in the United States. Divorce rates have also risen in conjunction with marriage and re-marriage rates. The paradox of high divorce rates in a self-proclaimed religious society is resolved in light of the underlying cultural norms related to individuality. Whereas in Europe, concerns over the future of the family focus on keeping birthrates steady, American concerns are more related to the institution of marriage and its role in society.

Cherlin (2010) notes that cohabitation rates are higher in Europe than in the United States, but that Americans are more likely to cohabit sooner than their European counterparts. Moreover, Americans are more likely to marry than Europeans. Marriage has simply fallen out of favor as a social priority in Western Europe; whereas it remains integral to the social and cultural fabric of American society. Marriage is an important component of social, cultural, religious, and individual identity in the United States but not in Europe. Yet Europe retains a more stable and cohesive vision of family life and cohabiting relationships than the United States. If Americans marry more often than Europeans, they also divorce more often. "Family life in the United States involves more transitions than anywhere else," (Cherlin, 2010, p. 19). The transitions impact the spouses and their children, if any.

Cohabitation is on the rise in the United States in part because of the cultural value of individualism. In Europe and other Western societies, the individual may be expected to make some self sacrifices for the common good. The emphasis on social well-being and social integrity prevents people from frivolously terminating relationships, whether they be cohabitations or marriages. In the United States, cohabiting or marriage relationships are often terminated for reasons that can be easily classified as selfish in nature. Americans have conflicting beliefs and values related to marriage and cohabitation, though. Most Americans believe that marriage should last forever, yet an astonishing number of Americans do not work hard to make their marriages or domestic partnerships last (Cherlin, 2010).