Reasons The “Marriage Crunch” Theory Failed
By: Shirley Simmons
There were likely several reasons the theory behind the original “Marriage Crunch” article failed. The author stated in the original text that a woman over thirty had a very small chance of ever getting married if she hadn’t already been. This was in the 80s however and a lot transpired after the article was written.
The number one reason the “Marriage Crunch” theory failed is likely an emphasis on higher education. Young women today are taught that although it is very possible to be married, have children, and attend college, it is also very difficult. In fact, those who wait to get married until after college often claim college is much easier than they thought it would be. While those who did everything at one time were more likely to drop out or have lower GPA averages.
Another reason the “Marriage Crunch” theory failed was because women are being taught that they don’t have to get married. In years before, marriage was one thing that society used to define a female. In fact, if you weren’t a wife at one time or another, you were looked at in a strange manner. However today women are choosing to stay unmarried and are even raising children on their own.
Many women traditionally felt pressured to get married and start a family before the age of 30 because of fertility options. In the past, some women worried they wouldn’t be able to have children as they aged. Today however there are more fertility options for older women, allowing women the choice to wait for marriage and a family.
Read about the marriage crunch in asian society.