Why Don't Millennials Rush To Get Married?

Marriage is one of the many things that millennials are cool about. Those of us who were born from 1981 to 1996, according to statistics, get married or are getting married three times less often than representatives of the older generations.

The reasons why millennials are delaying marriage are mainly for the following:

• unwillingness to bear financial responsibility - in 29%;
• difficulty finding a suitable pair - in 26% of cases;
• perception of themselves as too young for married life - in 26%.

Compared to previous generations, millennials, if they marry, do so at a much later age. If in 1965 for a woman married life began from about 23 years old, today this figure is already 29 years old. For men - age 23 and 31, respectively. In 2018, this data was published by The Knot, a leading wedding brand with operations in 15 countries.

These statistics are a sign of an important cultural shift. "For the first time in history, people see marriage as an opportunity, not a necessity," says Brooke Genn, a married millennial and relationship coach.

Millennials put personal needs and values first. Many of them focus on planning their careers and financial future, as well as pursuing other aspects of their lives - politics, education, religion.

The shift in the role of women in modern society also becomes a reason to postpone marriage. Girls strive to get education, to reach career heights - such options were less available in previous generations. Millennials are generally better educated, but women are now getting bachelor's degrees even more often than men.

Millennials question the importance of the institution of marriage itself, either because of skepticism about its benefits (preferring cohabitation) or because of the fact that they have witnessed the divorce of their parents.

“Millennials marry more than their parents know what they expect from a relationship.” - Dr. Wyatt Fisher, a licensed psychologist in Colorado.