1. Marriage
Fact and Fiction

2. What is Marriage For?

3. What is Marriage For? It is the central institution of the family.
organizes kinship
establishes family identities
regulates sexual behavior
attaches fathers to their offspring
supports childrearing
channels the flow of economic resources and mutual caregiving between generations

4. What is Marriage For?
It plays an important role in establishing the social, economic and emotional bonds between
husband and wife
parents and children
the family and the larger community

5. What is Marriage For?
It dictates responsibilities and binding obligations for its members.
It shapes family identity and creates an environment that allows intimacy and a sense of belonging

6. What is Marriage For? It enjoys social approval and public recognition
It gives positive social status and a new identity to men and women

7. What is Marriage For? It is good for children
More than any other family arrangement, marriage reliably connects
dads with their kids
fathers to the mothers of their children

8. Top 10 Myths of Marriage Benefits men more than women
men and women benefit equally from marriage
men gain greater health
women gain financially
Having children increases marital happiness
first child can drive parents apart
couples with children have a lower divorce rate

9. Top 10 Myths of Marriage Keys to success - good luck and romance
takes more than good luck and love
takes commitment and companionship
More educated women don’t marry
change from the past
today, college graduates are more likely to marry than their non-college peers

10. Top 10 Myths of Marriage
Couples who live together before marriage have better relationships
they have a far higher chance of breaking up
People can’t be expected to stay in a marriage for a lifetime - we live longer lives today
people are marrying later, so the amount of years married is roughly the same
half of all divorces take place within the first seven years of marriage

11. Top 10 Myths of Marriage
Marrying puts a woman at greater risk of domestic violence
unmarried women (especially those who cohabit) are at a much higher risk
Men have more invested in their wive’s wellbeing than boyfriends
Married people have less satisfying sex
actually, married people have sex more often
and they find it more satisfying, both physically and emotionally

12. Top 10 Myths of Marriage
Cohabitation is just like marriage, but “without the piece of paper”
cohabitation does not bring the benefits of marriage
couples are less committed
Because of the high divorce rate, people who stay married have happier marriages than people did in the past
significantly more work-related stress
significantly more marital conflict

13. 10 Facts About Marriage
Marrying as a teenager is the highest known factor for divorce.
The most likely way to find a future spouse is through an introduction by family or friends

14. 10 Facts About Marriage
The more similar people are in their values, backgrounds, and life goals, the more likely they are to have a successful marriage
Women have a significantly higher chance of marrying if they do not have a baby out of wedlock

15. 10 Facts About Marriage
College educated people are more likely to marry and LESS likely to divorce than people with lower levels of education
Cohabitation is not useful for having a better marriage

16. 10 Facts About Marriage Marriage helps people have more money
married men earn % MORE than their unmarried counterparts
men work harder after marriage
Married couples have better sex

17. 10 Facts About Marriage
Children from divorced homes are less likely to marry and more likely to divorce
For large portions of the American population, the risk of divorce is far below 50%

18. Declining Marriage Rates in America

19. Percentage of Spouses Who Said Their Marriages Were “Very Happy”

20. Divorce Trends in America

21. In the West, marriage is a child-rearing institution
It is becoming more important than:
race
class
neighborhood
in determining a child’s future

22. Benefits to Children
Children from intact families are far LESS likely to
be poor
experience economic insecurity
have behavioral problems
have school attendance problems
engage in early sexual activity

23. Benefits to Children
Children from intact families are far MORE likely to
stay in school
attain higher levels of education
avoid unwed teen parenthood
have more satisfying dating relationships
have a more positive attitude towards marriage
have longer lasting marriages

24. Benefits to Adults Married people are LESS likely to
take moral or mortal risks
attempt or commit suicide

25. Benefits to Adults Married people are MORE likely to
have better health habits
receive more regular health care
cope well with major life crises
severe illness
job loss
needs of sick children or aging parents

26. Benefits to Men
Better health habits and greater longevity (longer life)
Earn more money
Strengthens the bonds between fathers and their children

27. Benefits to Women Financial gain Better sex lives
Makes them happier mothers

28. Benefits to Society Marriage… is a childrearing institution
produces wealth
promotes pro-social behavior