Is the Sexual Revolution to Blame for Men’s Inability to Commit?
A fair question without an easy answer.
The landscape of romance and romantic relationships has changed dramatically in the last 50 years.
Statistically, we’re seeing more people remain single well into their 30’s than ever before. In the US, The Pew Research Center reported that, in 2017, “roughly six-in-ten adults younger than 35 (61%) are now living without a spouse or partner, up from 56% just 10 years ago.”
In 1960, 75% of US adults were married. Now, the number hovers at around 50%.
Statistics on married people matter because they signal a cultural shift with wide ramifications. As marriage falls in popularity, so do other forms of monogamous, long-term commitment. Like a row of dominoes, marriage is the first knocked tile that brings down all the others. The rising number of US adults living without a spouse or partner indicates just that. A couple of decades ago, the concern was that young adults were trading marriage for cohabitation, now, the concern is that they are eschewing committed relationships altogether.
The relationship landscape has gone from the (somewhat) straightforward dating — > engaged — >married, to a myriad of one-night stands, just-hanging-out’s, situationships, friends with…
