Essay On Family And Marriage

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Family and marriage- why are youths in Singapore delaying marriage over the years? Since the later half of the 20th century, family and family life across most societies have changed tremendously. Casper and Bianchi (2002) have identified many emerging trends that affected the composition of the modern family and subsequently, roles of the individuals in society. Demographic trends of increased singlehood, low fertility, and delayed marriages have hit the headlines globally in recent years. (Straughan, 2009) Singapore is not an exception. Statistics released in report Population White Paper in 2013 shows an increase in median age for Singaporeans to get married. Comparing 2000 and 2011, the median age for grooms increased from 28.5 to 30.1,…show more content…
(Straughan, 2009) The onset of industrialization and economic development transformed economic structures and the way society was organized. When the world moved towards industrialization and economic development in the later half of the 20th century, women were granted rights and access into fields previously dominated by men. With the gradual entry of women into higher-tier education and subsequently the labor force over the years, traditional Parsonian families are slowly diminishing, paving way for a new era of contemporary family structures and family life. (Straughan, 1999) With industrialization came the rise of demographic institutions, which in turn increased the social status and power of women. (Straughan, 2009) Women no longer need to marry for economic reasons. There is a shift in the idealization of marriage for women from economic sustenance to actualization of personal satisfaction. Being economically independent, women in the contemporary world marry for intrinsic reasons like romantic love and companionship, unlike in the past. Simply put, women today may choose to marry later because they can support themselves financially unlike in the
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