UK NEWS

MARRIAGE DOESN'T MATTER ANYMORE SAYS NEW SURVEY

People now believe that marriage is less important

Wednesday January 23,2008

By Jack Teague for express.co.uk

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BRITISH people now believe that living together is just as good as being married according to a recent study.

The findings in this year's annual survey of British Social Attitudes found that less than a fifth of people think there is much difference in between being married or living together.

Over half the people surveyed said that they believed weddings were now more about celebration than a life-long commitment.

And perhaps most worryingly, two thirds of people believe that divorce is now a normal part of life, and say it can actually be a positive thing.

The study also concluded that only 28% of people believe that married couples make better parents than unmarried couples.

In 2005, only 244,000 weddings took place, which was the lowest number of marriage ceremonies in 111 years.

Alison Park, who is co-author of the report, believes that despite the shift in opinion on marriage, people are still uncomfortable with the notion of one-parent families.

She said: "The key finding is that peoples views about marriage and cohabitation are clearly getting more liberal.

"The public are divided about one parent bringing up children, although when it comes to step-parenting they feel you don't need to be a biological parent and you don't need to be married to do a good job."

Harry Benson, head of the Bristol Community Family Trust believes that the findings are to be expected but claims that there is a much bigger chance of unmarried couples splitting up.

He said: "The findings are not surprising. It is socially acceptable to live together, the Government says it doesn't matter if you are married or not."

"Cohabiting parents are twice as likely to split up before their child is five than married couples and outcomes are the things that matter."

DOES MARRIAGE MATTER

24.01.08, 12:02am

There was a study done recently about happy people.

Married men were seen to be the happiest - wonder why.
Married women were the most unhappy people of all - wonder why

In another survey this week 60% of married women said that they would leave their husbands if they could keep their lifestyle.

It seems to me that marriage is only good for men.

• Posted by: Penny2 • Report Comment

OF COURSE MARRIAGE MATTERS

23.01.08, 2:28pm

Unlike what some stupid Liebour cabinet ministers say about marriage, it matters a lot.
Destroy marriage and you have started to destroy society.
Marriage is not perfect, but it's better than all the others and has stood the test of time on that.

• Posted by: The_Boss • Report Comment

MARRIAGE DOESN'T MATTER?

23.01.08, 1:39pm

It does matter a great deal, even if it does break up down the line. If you have children it would be nice for them to know that their parents were committed to one another. When couples don't marry they are saying "we can't be bothered" or "what's the point" Says a lot for them doesn't it?

• Posted by: grayboy • Report Comment

MARRIAGE DOESN'T MATTER? NOT TO THE GOVERNMENT.....

23.01.08, 1:26pm

Marriage has been undermined by DIVORCE!
Of course its only a bit of paper if everything you say in your vows can just be thrown out with the rubbish.
When you marry, you stand before everyone and make a COMMITTMENT FOR LIFE, not just till your fed up or the next attraction comes along.

Divorces are granted far too easily these days and this is what has undermined British society.

Of course, the government won't do anything to encourage marriage, they stand to gain far too much by us not marrying. There is NO SUCH THING AS COMMON LAW MARRIAGE, so believe me if your partner dies, the first thing you get asked for when you try to claim anything, including your deceased partners pension is the MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE!

My Mum was with her partner for 30years, both worked full time, but when her partner died just one year into retirement she couldn't get a penny of his pension. THE GOVERNMENT GET THE LOT.

Marriage matters a great deal.

• Posted by: Jac16 • Report Comment

ALLOWANCE

23.01.08, 1:24pm

Once the married persons tax allowance was stolen there was no financial advantage to being married. This put marriage between opposite sexes on the same level as same sex partnerships so why risk everything that you've worked for by being married and hoping that you don't get divorced.

• Posted by: jonocynic9 • Report Comment

ITS ALL ABOUT MONEY

23.01.08, 12:52pm

I think it's down to the cost of divorce myself which puts people off. The trouble is now the government is making it so you loose everything even if its just common law man and wife so if your a man you may as well just give that house away you've worked your backside off for and pretend you were married

• Posted by: Defiant • Report Comment