Three new types of marriage for modern couples

Concept of marriage It was always tricky. Theoretically, people are supposed to marry someone they love for the rest of their lives, but reality is always very different.

Throughout history, marriage has been driven by status, reproduction and social expectations. Many cultures around the world raise eyebrows on unmarried people, and as a result, people often get married from a sense of duty and commitment rather than long-term love. These pressures are frequently generated Unbalanced and unfulfilled unionsone or both partners will bear the weight of commitments made for all wrong reasons.

In modern society, where most people are allowed to live independent lives if they can support themselves, more people are opting out of “capturing” themselves in loveless marriages. 2020 article issue Our World of Data It shows that marriages in the US have declined by astounding 50% since the 1970s.

But that does not completely mean the end of the institution. In many parts of the world, the concept of marriage is simply evolving. People are able to marry on their own terms and realize that they are not considered untraditional, but are still in a union that meets their needs.

Here are three types of unconventional marriages that involve people for reasons other than love.

1. Handy marriage: When stability is more important than passion

For many years, one of the sole purposes of marriage has been childbirth. Married people were expected to raise nuclear families that ultimately gave birth to children and contributed to society. For this reason, “romance factors” were considered extremely important.

Japan has decided to change these rules, but today more and more citizens are engaged.friendship marriage. “This type of marriage involves living with someone who shares mutual interests but cannot live together or separately.

Sexualitydisillusionment with traditional marriage and economic stability is only part of why Japanese youth view this as a more practical option for marriage issues.

It may come as a shock to some people, but this type of marriage is not uncommon. a New York Times article Up to 15% of American couples say they live in what is called “sexless” marriages.

For many couples, romantic feelings can evolve over time into companion bonds. This does not mean they love their partner that much. That means their relationship is rooted in mutual respect and shared commitment, rather than idealized concepts of romance and sex. There is no problem choosing to build a life with your loved one in a platonic way. Japan seems to be accepting this idea with open arms.

2. Renewable Marriage Contract: If your marriage has a timeline

Have you ever wanted to try marriage? Maybe you didn’t know if “happiness later” was really for you, so you wanted a way to explore the concept without committing it forever. Now, the once estimated “marriage trial period” in Mexico may be the type of freedom you seek.

The aim is to reduce the rate of increase in divorce rates in 2011. BBC article It explains how Mexico decided to allow couples to try to marry for several years. Instead of getting divorceif the couple’s bonds go wrong, the couple can wait for their license to expire. All obligations, liabilities and issues related to parenting will be outlined later in a contract to avoid confusion and conflict.

This idea has never been formalized into law, but concerns have risen in many countries. 2024 study Such factors were highlighted. educationsexual satisfaction, or infertility It can help people predict whether a marriage will last forever.

The problem is that most people don’t take statistics into consideration before saying, “I will.” Many couples enter into marriage without actually evaluating data that could reveal a potential red flag. What’s worse, the data is not available. This is why renewable marriages could be an interesting and potential solution for the future for those struggling to see the whole picture of their marriage.

3. Living together: When marriage is an individual

If you live in a culture influenced by Western society, you know how individualistic it is. For better or worse, Western culture seems to have shifted away from a sense of “community.” In some cultures, this mentality also applies to marriage.

The Dutch “lat” marriage stands for separation together. It is for a couple in a committed relationship who choose not to live together for a variety of reasons. The couple enjoys all the perks of the couple’s commitment and can even have children, but chooses not to live in the same residence.

Many people may ask, “Why do you bother to marry?” However, the people of Lat marriages argue that this arrangement is a stronger testimony of their commitment than traditional marriages.

2018 article in Advances in life course research Couples in the LAT relationship emphasize that they believe their unions will endure not from legal or social obligations but because they are built on authentic, heartfelt commitments.

Whether it is a religious, legal, or a simple agreement between two people, the concept of marriage is always supposed to benefit both parties. If marriage should be fulfilling and that means bending traditions to suit your own needs, it may be worth considering. After all, it’s not about other people happiness But it’s yours.