If there is one word that millennials cringe at, it’s Marriage. The definition of marriage has changed from one generation to another. What marriage was for our parents, is not the same for us and will not be the same for the next generation. It is more or less like societal conditioning that comes with a set of rules: to be married at a specific age, have kids, buy a house and the list goes on.
This year YouGov, Mint & CPR(Centre for Policy Research) conducted a detailed survey. The results indicated that 19% of the millennials did not want to get married or have children. The reasons may vary with individuals, but these are some of the most common ones that we see and hear.
Change of Perception
Earlier, marriage was to keep the family tree growing and expand the community. Millennials now see Marriage as a “Responsibility” which binds to stay in one place & one house & for some to stay with one person is challenging too. With fast-paced technology, the internet & dating apps, there are more options in terms of partners, thus leading to not being prepared for a responsibility that stays forever.
Women’s choice
Gone are the days where women did not have a say in their marriage. Women have grown in multiple dimensions by making decisions about their life on their own. On priority, they prefer to be independent and free. They have goals to achieve in their work lives. They do not want marriage to be a hindrance that succumbs their freedom. Marriage is the least important task for them when compared to these goals.
Finances
To survive in a Socio-economic environment like India, it is a need to have a good financial back up to sustain in a marriage. When it comes to money, most of the Millenials do not believe in savings to hold the future secure. They would like to explore life, travel to places, experience the food, and culture. They would prefer to travel to a new country, rather than investing money in a marriage.
Live for the moment
Life is short, live it to the fullest. Millennials take this statement way too seriously. They believe in living for the moment, enjoying small pleasures of life rather than staying committed. It is a commitment made for life, which is difficult to withdraw from. With the increased rate of divorces, they fear being in that soup which in turn is major turbulence in their life – emotionally & financially.
Everything bottoms up to a fear of a life-long commitment and to be in debt in terms of finances. A growing percentage of millennials say they do not want to be married, but there are a lot more of them taking time to save money and to find the right person. After all, fear can be overcome by love!