Everyone knows our culture is changing. But it’s the unnoticed things that are often some of the most important changes. For example, did you know that since 1970, the average age couples marry rose from 21 to 28. You’ve probably sensed it, depending on your age. “Kids are marrying later these days” must have crossed your mind at a recent wedding. My oldest granddaughter was right on schedule, The average age of a woman marrying today is 27–she was 27. Her husband was right on schedule as well. The average age for the man is 29–he was 29.
But here’s a statistic you’re not likely to notice. Since 1990, the rate of unmarried female teens getting pregnant without being married dropped by 42%. That’s good news. But the bad news is that the rate of 20-something women getting pregnant and not being married rose by 27%. So it’s like the new “20’s” are the old “teens.”
Now some of them are cohabiting with the child’s father, but by the time that child is five years old, 40% of them will have split up for good. That’s three times the overall rate of married couples with a child that age who will divorce. These cohabiting couples who split up will have other children and other partners, creating a maze of insecure relationships for their children.
But there’s another surprise in these changing statistics. If a woman graduates from college, only 12% of them will have a child before they get married. That’s compared to the 83% of females who dropped out of high school who had a child without being married. Today, 58% of all first births are to teens and women who are not married.
Why is this important? The absence of a father in the home all too often produces the vicious cycle which includes poverty. Children born into a stable family where the parents are married statistically is more likely to graduate from college, better equipped to thrive economically, and in turn start their own family on a stable footing.
Children from the unmarried mom are much more likely to grow up in an unstable environment where finances are constantly a problem, education is stunted, and there is an increased likelihood they will repeat the behavior of their mother. Obviously, there are exceptions–we’re talking about the typical cycle in which so many are caught.
Question: What can be done, in your mind, to break this cycle?
Quite difficult question. I think early marriage in living with parents can some how help to break this cycle.