Is marriage just a legal formality or something more meaningful? With changing views on relationships and commitment, do you think the concept of marriage still holds the same significance it did in the past? Or is it becoming more of a formality in modern times?
1 yMarriage is relevent if you are religious or have a legal need to sign the paper. As a once divorced and twice married man, I would caution all parties against marriage.
1) I have grown to view marriage as a spiritual doctrine created by western religions. I am no homophobe... dont care what you do in the bedroom... had and still have numerous gay friends... dont care. That said, its a religious doctrine so if you are not a pious, church-centric human then you will not likely respect the vows you take and should not be a party to the contract the State provides in conjunction with these vows. Enjoy a civil union, leave doctrine to those who partake.
2) The courts, laws, and legal system, though improvements and progress is being made, still side heavily with the female. Frankly, so does most of western society. In this new era of equality and (oft) militaristic femanism (not always a bad thing), men are no longer holding all the cards. The balance between two parties in a union are far more equal than 50+ years ago. Yet most laws and attitudes still treat women as helplessly inferior and dependent on the man. So which is it? Feminism appears to want the benefits of equality without the cost/risk.
My not-so-rare example: I voluntarily gave up more than half to my X, who was a higher earner as well! I knew trying for equality would have cost us both dearly, and me, likely moreso. And I would then have near-zero opportunity to maintain a semblance of peace which was needed for our two children, through which we will forever be bound in some way. FYI the reason for separation was mutual... we grew apart.
I swore I would not ever (paper) marry again. I am not overly pious, and I did not want to risk a second financial rebuild. But... as luck would have it, after several years I connected with a woman I absolutely cherish. For this new wife, the reasons were purely legal. We had 2 ceremonies of which I am totally dedicated to. Being older and wiser, I fully understand the vows I spoke, and feel I am wiser and now have the mental fortitude to abide by and truly honor them and need no contract to hold me accountable. The paper is by legal necessity or I'd not have done it.
Find a partner, gather some friends, have aparty and create some vows in the shadow of whatever superior power you accept, and live to honor the vows you speak. Otherwise there is no reason to bring the State into your home. And forget about a prenup... they are likely worthless after 5 years and certainly worth less as more time passes. Unless, of course, you enter the union with vast or vastly different resources. Love has nothing to do with a contract.
Women want equality? Here's a big step in the right direction; step up, man up, and take responsibility for a failed marriage or naive and bad choices. Men have been doing it for centuries.
00 Reply
Most Helpful Opinions
- 9.8K opinions shared on Society & Politics topic.
u 1 ySome people don't want to make a commitment, they want to be able to walk away by just packing up and leaving in an hour, and they aren't concerned about the fact that tumultuous relationships have an effect on both partners and any children they might have had. For THOSE people, marriage would be a bad idea.
These people condemn marriage, but. . . nobody forces you to get married, and when someone gets married and it fails, it not MARRIAGE that failed. What failed was one or both of the partners in the marriage. There is nothing inherently evil or flawed or constraining about marriage; no, marriage is what you make it.
The institution of marriage has been a part of virtually every society for thousands of years. . . because it is better than the alternatives.
Since the age of 18, I have spent 24 years being married, and the other 28 years either single and unattached, or in a long term relationship but not married. I would rather live with a long term partner than live alone and date casually. And when you choose the right partner and you both make the effort to have the marriage succeed, it is far better than than simply living together.
If marriage is not for you, I won't criticize you for not wanting to be married. But if that is your choice, you should take responsibility for your choice instead of claiming that marriage is an outdated or failed institution.
00 Reply
1 yYes, marriage is still relevant in today’s society. If you look specifically through the lens of heteronormative history, marriage used to be the only way a woman could guarantee a kind of security and money for herself or any kind of stability that was approved of in society. Now that women carry the same rights as men, it can seem to be an unnecessary thing. Today marriage acts less as a means of legal stability but more as an emotional motion of commitment and love that is greatly celebrated and as many religious institutions still encourage marriage it will always be relevant as long as religion as we know it exists.
Truthfully, marriage as a legal act is still relevant not only for heterosexual couples anymore but it is a specific distinction that same-sex couples have been fighting for years to have for themselves and in some places they do, and others they don’t. Marriage is a guarantee of your estate passing to your spouse in the event of an unforeseen event that can take your life away. It’s also a guarantee that any children you have will be cared for after your death.
And I can already hear the homophobes going “JuSt WrItE a WiLl!” Not everyone thinks about that when they’re 20-something with nothing to their name beyond a bank account. Chill.10 Reply
- 1.1K opinions shared on Society & Politics topic.
1 yIt is for me. Not by the legal paper… it’s part of it. But the full commitment … it’s a complete package. People make it too complicated.
I had a big wedding and a good marriage for a long time… till he wanted to end it.. I don’t believe in divorces … so he took me to court… and I took nothing because I didn’t want to fight… no alimony or child support…he makes a lot more than me… I want peace. I want to raise the kids properly and respectfully that even though dad wanted to end a family… I will keep it going in 2 separated homes… so yes I rebuild my finances and now in my second marriage..: life is so much better when we place love in difficult situations.
marriage is still very important to me even though I was burned once. I hold my standards not by what the society wants… to tear us down… but to take the opportunity to do better for our future generations. Yes my kids will have an amazing marriage or marriages 😂 and a good life as I raise them to have such standards.00 Reply
What Girls & Guys Said
Opinion
39Opinion
Marriage by law? 100% no. Marriage by ceremony? Yes. I'd like to get married myself and have a little ceremony, but I would want it to be small with only close friends and family. Ideally nobody farther away than best friends and first cousins. I'd also prefer it to be somewhere quiet in the woods where it's just us our friends and family and the gods. I don't want all those eyes and all that pressure it's too stressful.
All I want is a little ceremony and a picknick afterwards basically. To me the idea and concept of marriage is far more important than any piece of paper. Frankly soon I think these small ones will be most marriages soon. The economy is crashing and a diamond ring is something pretty much every guy is going to need a loan for in this day an age. When you ask for a traditional wedding it's unrealistic you need an average of 33,000 dollars for a decent wedding when you factor in things like the dress the rings etc.
Nobody can afford that these days without a loan. It's just not going to happen so if you want the same wedding your parents had you're going to have to be in debt for a decade or more to have one special day. I know weddings are romantic and a big deal but you also have to be realistic too and, in this economy, a traditional wedding is frankly a bad idea financially and that can fuck both of you. Especially if you merged your finances after marriage.
01 Reply1.1K opinions shared on Society & Politics topic. If you notice all Appliances.
Things that we made so cheap.
If you break them, you just get something new.
Everything is replaceable and I think our younger generation thinks the same thing in a relationship.
I like to thought of marriage the meaning of it but I think in time it will start to not be as popular. I'm talking 20 to 30 years done the road. We will see it really start To disappear.
This is a really good question because men and women need to start getting it together because. When Ai starts taking over No one's going to be able to afford a house or buy a house Because people won't have jobs but I bet they will have an Ai Chauffeur babysitter Grocery shopper. And If people do get married and they split the man better pay his dues. Otherwise she's gonna get an A. I. To kick his ass00 ReplyNo, it’s not as relevant as before. Most people I know are in a stable long term relation without ever thinking about marriage. Some do because they like to give the party. Some do because they want to become parents.
Most people with children I know are not married. They usually do a notary thing to fix all legal things you need when you get kids.
It’s not about commitment. Marriage in my country is old fashioned and heavily pushed by religious groups. If you are not religious (like the majority) you just don’t want to spend that much money on formalising your relationship in that way when you can also spend a thousand euros at the notary office instead.
00 Reply1.2K opinions shared on Society & Politics topic. Marriage SHOULD be a fundamental building block to social construction. It's a community recognition of two people wanting to be and grow together. Ideal for those intent on having children unless the notion that screw anyone you like and that relationships are just fleeting events to scratch an itch and not about making and building something together. Resilience isn't a key trait in that kind of lifestyle. Perhaps it's a bygone fad of humanity that since society is provided for everyone can just fuck around and be selfish
00 Reply- 765 opinions shared on Society & Politics topic.
1 yMarriage is absolutely still relevant—at least to those who see commitment as more than convenience. The problem isn’t with marriage itself; it’s with a culture that treats loyalty as optional and vows as temporary. We’ve made it too easy to walk away instead of working through hardship, so of course people start seeing it as “just a formality.”
But for those of us who believe in real, lasting love—marriage is sacred. It’s not just a contract; it’s a covenant. A promise that says: “Even when it’s hard, I’m not going anywhere.” And that kind of bond? That’s what builds real legacy, family, and trust.
- Eva ❤️00 Reply 6.4K opinions shared on Society & Politics topic. It's a legal contract, with advantages and disadvantages to the couple, or to the individuals. The concept of marriage as a holy covenant blessed by God is over for the increasing number of non-believers. Their marriages mean whatever they want them to mean.
10 Reply3K opinions shared on Society & Politics topic. Marriage was supposed to be a bond and promise of two people who want to be together with each other. Unfortunately our societies turned it into tax relief institution, in US additionally it's social security police for lazy and incompetent women.
00 Reply
1 yYep I still see 👀 others getting married and having offspring or just plain getting married. It's in the newspapers regularly, it's something I've known "of people" getting married. Believe it or not, it's still a thing to get married lol 😔 😆 💍
For me? Well now that's a complex question ; realistically I'm just gonna be single until the day that I die for this lifetime lol 😆 remember I don't want offspring. I think I'm happier single ☺️
00 Reply- 773 opinions shared on Society & Politics topic.
1 yYeah, because it's an institution since before any of us were around, and it's work for the most part.. As you can see when people want to start changing things up, the results don't seem to be looking too great.. A lot of broken and lonely people as a result..
00 Reply Marriage in society is about Consumerism and taxes, It's about what your Government wants. It is not the institution that is in the Bible. The institution that's in the Bible Is definitely the better institution. Unfortunately, it's not what we have in our society.
Keeping up with the Jones's is all we have and what we can all live without.
10 Reply2.8K opinions shared on Society & Politics topic. Its the guy signing his rights away so in that sense its impactful because he is now legally inferior to his wife. Its also why men are not willing to do it.
15 Reply- 1 y
That’s why you sign that prenup
- 1 y
@SmokinAces2000 Prenups don't always hold up in court.
- 1 y
Plus if you bring up the idea of pre-nup, spouce will get defensive.
- 1 y
@SmokinAces2000 prenups can be very weak as tjme passes. Prenups are usually limited to assets aquired prior to a union. After 10+ years, hnless you still have that sports car or video game collection (sarcasm), likely your gains in life will be considered joint, even if you are the bread winner. Plus, the other partner can always fall back on naivety of youth, which is probably a fact.
- 1 y
Well obviously it’s discretionary but generally speaking if you have a good lawyer, make sure that your fiancé is willing to sign it, and have it notarized then you should be fine.
Anonymous(45 Plus)1 yYes. Marriage is COMMITMENT. It's NOT just a piece of paper. And I'm not critical of people who don't want to get married. I think that unless you mean forever, if that is not your intent. Then you shouldn't even be considering marriage. But yes, I think marriage is more relevant than ever.
00 Reply
Anonymous(30-35)1 yThe concept of marriage will aways be relevant, and very important to a healthy society. Unfortunately, due to social changes and a sexist legal system, and women's willingness to take advantage of it, marriage today is just a bastardized version of what it used to be. The cost/risk/benefit reality for men now is not what it must be to continue motivating men to marry, and we have been seeing that play out in recent years.
00 Reply- 1.1K opinions shared on Society & Politics topic.
1 yIt’s relevant to the people that genuinely want a long lasting relationship with someone they love.
However these days more people rather have quantity over quality, and that’s both men and women.00 Reply
1 ySome people still marry based off a genuine connection. But many people marry for the wrong reasons and the marriages fail.
00 Reply2K opinions shared on Society & Politics topic. I believe it's very significant because if you are having sex without being married it's committing a deliberate sin each time - fornication.
00 Reply
1 yI think marriage is more of a religious thing. I think if society decides to disconnect from the values that is found in religious beliefs, then marriage will go away too.
01 ReplyYes, to the right person.
5.6K opinions shared on Society & Politics topic. Marriage is always relevant.
Fall in love - real love - and then you will understand.00 ReplyYes and it’s sad people view it as meaningless nowadays
00 ReplyFor a lot of guys it isn't anymore because they are scared woman are taking advantage of the benefits it brings them to divorce
04 Reply- 1 y
Prenups are good for sure but I think both partners should threat eachother in the right way. That means while they are in the relationship but also when it fails. I don't understand that people are trying to screw eachother after breaking up. Real love is about caring for someone in good and bad times
Anonymous(25-29)1 yYou need to invest in some therapy. You're so hung up and caught up on " so and so says this and so and so says that. Where do I fit in." A nuclear family will always be relevant to healthy sane people.
00 Reply
1 yIt's the building block of civilization and its meaning needs to be restored in both a legal and social sense. Many of our problems would be solved if we did.
00 Reply- 300 opinions shared on Society & Politics topic.
1 yAbsolutely because at the end of the day when you hit up the hospital and you have to make a decision yeah yes
00 Reply 3.9K opinions shared on Society & Politics topic. Most people don't do the whole ceremony if thry get married a second time (or any subsequent time). The legal benefits are the reason why people do it though.
00 Reply- 6.2K opinions shared on Society & Politics topic.
1 yEconomically, or legally it is.
Otherwise it isn't.
00 Reply - 426 opinions shared on Society & Politics topic.
1 yThe purpose of marriage is to raise children. It still serves that purpose.
00 Reply
Anonymous(36-45)1 y👉🏻👈🏻🥺
00 Reply12K opinions shared on Society & Politics topic. Marriage is the central pillar if Western civilization.
00 ReplyI would say that it is still very relevant. Most people that I know are either married or divorced so most of us are affected by it.
00 Reply
1 yMarriage is irrelevant people do it as a social practice or business contract rather than a covenant before God. The marital vows are just empty words
00 ReplyFor women yes. For men no. Women are weak. Men are the strong. The weaker needs the strong. History and reality proves it.
00 Reply- 1.2K opinions shared on Society & Politics topic.
1 yAs long as there is love in this world marriage will relevant
00 Reply
1 yNo, marriage is a violation of free will and basic human sexual needs
00 Reply- 321 opinions shared on Society & Politics topic.
1 yNot in America. There is no reason for a man to get married to an American woman.
00 Reply
1 yI think it is the bedrock to a stable society.
00 Reply
1 yI think they should be treated like driver’s licenses. Every few years they need to be renewed.
00 Reply
1 yi think it’s becoming more of a formality in modern times
00 Reply4.3K opinions shared on Society & Politics topic. Yes, is it very much.
00 Reply- 1.2K opinions shared on Society & Politics topic.
1 yIt is the central pillar of civilization.
20 Reply - 5.2K opinions shared on Society & Politics topic.
1 yYes, at least for most people.
00 Reply - 9.7K opinions shared on Society & Politics topic.
1 yYes. Always will be..
10 Reply Only if he or she is loyal
00 ReplyMen women life shit
00 Reply- 4.6K opinions shared on Society & Politics topic.
1 yMaybe, maybe not. Marriage isn’t even necessary.
00 Reply
1 ynope it never really was, its a sociatal standard
00 Reply
Anonymous(36-45)1 yYes, I think so.
00 Reply
1 yYes, it is.
00 Reply
1 yNot really
00 ReplyNo it's not
00 Reply3.4K opinions shared on Society & Politics topic. No it's not
00 ReplyWhomst cares?
00 Reply
Anonymous(25-29)1 yNo...
00 Reply
Learn more
We're glad to see you liked this post.
You can also add your opinion below!
Girl's Behavior
Guy's Behavior
Flirting
Dating
Relationships
Fashion & Beauty
Health & Fitness
Marriage & Weddings
Shopping & Gifts
Technology & Internet
Break Up & Divorce
Education & Career
Entertainment & Arts
Family & Friends
Food & Beverage
Hobbies & Leisure
Other
Religion & Spirituality
Society & Politics
Sports
Travel
Trending & News