Marriage in International Perspective

Marriage is more prevalent in the United States than in nearly all other developed Western nations.

American’s Attachment to marriage To the statement, “Marriage is an outdated institution.” Only 10 percent of Americans agreed- a lower share than in any developed nation except Iceland. 22% of Canadians agreed 26 % of the British 36 % of the French Overall, Americans seem more attached to marriage as a norm than do citizens in other developed countries.

Historical ties Historian Nancy Cott has argued that the nation's founders viewed Christian marriage as one of the building blocks of American democracy. Alexis de Tocqueville wrote in the 1830s: “There is certainly no country in the world where the tie of marriage is more respected than in America or where conjugal happiness is more highly or worthily appreciated.”

However: More Transitions Into and Out of Marriage

Important concept: Marriage Metabolism The number of marriage - and divorce- related transitions that adults and their children undergo The sum of the total first marriage rate and the total divorce rate

Marriage Metabolism