MARRIAGE AND DATING By: Kelly, Norma, Sean, Joseph

QUESTIONS  What is marriage?  Why do people get married?  What do you consider dating? A form of courtship consisting of social activities done by two persons with the aim of each assessing the other’s suitability as a partner in an intimate relationship or as a spouse.  Why is dating important?  Why is marriage important?  Why are relationships important Stability for kids

QUESTIONS CONT’D  What makes a good marriage? Accept them Pay attention Nurture Listen Resolving Making time together Take time Affectionate Be a team Learn Honor Recognize

DATING CUSTOMS AROUND THE WORLD  Afghanistan Dating is rare in Afghanistan because most marriages are arranged by parents, and schools are separate for boys and girls. The opportunities to meet are rare. Girls have a 7:00 P.M. curfew, while boys have an 11:00 P.M. curfew.  Central and South America Dating is not allowed until the age of 15 here. When of age, most boys and girls date in large groups, going out together to weekend dance parties. When not dancing, teens gather at local clubs to eat and talk.

DATING CUSTOMS AROUND THE WORLD  Europe Dating is usually a group event in Europe. In Finland, as many as 30 teens may attend a movie together. Slumber parties are common in Italy and Switzerland, where teens gather for parties at a home and sleep there when the party is over. In Spain teens join a Pandilla, a club or a group of friends with the same interests, like cycling or hiking. Dating is done one-to-one and both girls and boys ask each other out and split the cost of the evening’s entertainment. In Russia dates take place at dances or at clubs where teens eat or chat with friends. In small towns, teens meet in the streets down town or gather around a fountain.

DATING CUSTOMS AROUND THE WORLD  Japan and Korea In Japan and Korea, most high school students don’t date or go to parties, but spend their time studying instead. Dating begins in college, when only boys do the asking and pay for the dates.

FUN FACTS ON DATING  Speed dating, invented by a rabbi from Los Angeles in 1999, is based on a Jewish tradition of chaperoned gatherings of young Jewish singles  Research shows that men know they’re fall in in love after just three dates, but women don’t fall in love until date 14  New York and Washington have the most state residents who are unmarried, 50% and 70%,respectively. Idaho and Utah have the most state residents who are married, 60% and 59%  Over 50% of all singles in America have not had a date in more than two years

MARRIAGE  ½ to 60% of first marriages end in divorce and 75% of those individuals remarry.  More than ½ of American's have been, are now, or will be in 1 or more step families today.

MARRIAGE CONT’D.  First 6 months- Honeymoon period–happiest of all.  6 months to 5 years- Happiness dips; divorce is common; usual time for birth of first child.  5 to 10 years- Happiness holds steady.  10 to 20 years- Happiness dips as children reach puberty.  20 to 30 years- Happiness rises when children leave the nest.  30 to 50 years- happiness is high and steady, barring serious health problems

MARRIAGE FUN FACTS  Due to jobs, kids, TV, the Internet, hobbies, and home and family responsibilities, the average married couple spends just four minutes a day alone together  Traditionally, bridesmaids would be dressed in similar bride-like gowns to confuse rival suitors, evil spirits, and robbers.  The average married couple has sex 58 times per year, or slightly more than once a week  In three states—Arkansas, Utah, and Oklahoma—women tend to marry younger, at an average age of 24. Men’s average age is 26. In the northeastern states of New York, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts, men and women wait about four years longer to marry. The U.S. average age for women is 25.6 and for men, 27.7

MARRIAGE FUN FACTS CONT’D  A person’s lever of education influences the age at shich they marry. Couples tend to marry later in states with higher numbers of college-educated adults, while the opposite is true for states with lower education levels  Washington, D.C., has the lowest marriage rate in the nation.  Married couples tend to have fatter waistlines, which can lead to a decrease in sexual attraction and general health. Additionally, a spouse’s chances of becoming obese increase by 37% if his or her partner is obese.  A marriage ceremony typically ends with a kiss because in ancient Rome, a kiss was a legal bond that sealed contracts, and marriage was seen as a contract.

MARRIAGE FUN FACTS CONT’D  Throughout most of history, marriage was not necessarily based on mutual love, but an institution devoted to acquiring in-laws and property and to provide the family additional labor forces (by having children)  More than friendship, laughter, forgiveness, compatibility, and sex, spouses name trust as the element crucial for a happy marriage  Married people are twice as likely to go to church as unmarried people.  No sex in a marriage has a much more powerful negative impact on a marriage than good sex has a positive impact.

DIVORCE  The consequences of divorce last for decades. Income, family welfare, and self esteem are lower among the formerly married than among people of the same age who are still married or who have always been single.

TEST QUESTION  Name two countries and their dating customs.

BIBLIOGRAPHY     marriage.html marriage.html