The Inequality Of Marriage In The United States

I feel the pursuit of life, liberty and happiness are not inevitably defined by marriage for everyone. The unity of marriage is a brilliant thing, but there are more common law marriages, divorces and blended families than anything. “For 16 centuries Christianity also defined the validity of a marriage on the basis of a couple wishes.” (Coontz, 2007) Then in the 16th century Europe began to require marriages be under states legally or auspices. This was to deter young adults from marrying against their parents’ wishes. Mid- 19th century state supreme courts even allowed cohabitation as evidence of a binding marriage.

There even came a time common-law marriage was not allowed. And whites were basically prohibited to marry outside their race. In the 20th century the institution of marriage was born to licensing, which was thought to help allot resources such as social security, pensions, and health insurance. But nearly 40% of American children are born to unmarried parents. Some of these individuals just don’t believe in allowing a state to tell them on paper they are married. Maybe, they just hold dead 15th century values that are not recognized today.

I feel the state has played a role for ages in how a marriage should be proved.

But I don’t think that all that it has evolved to be necessary. The application, being recorded in court records, having a marriage license that only valid for a certain period of time before paying a new fee. Can be a pain, but who are these guidelines for? To guard the marrying individuals from each other ex: a polygamist, or untruthful person. Or are the statues to help the government control the masses. “The welfare state is a case of crippling by the government of the functions that should be performed by families and localities.” (Himmelfarb,

1996).
Later it was unwavering that the American family began to stabilize. “The living arrangements of children stabilized as did the living arrangements of adults and the elderly.” (Bianchi, 2000). During the 1940s and 1950s, even the poor of majority had a male two parent household. I remember watching “Good Times” and the story line was about being poor in the ghetto. But they represented a two parent household as well.
Furthermore, I see the opposite, if you are lucky to see a male in the household of a poor family. They are not on the lease, or not the biological father of the children in the home. This may sound stereotypical, but it’s truer than anything. I’ve seen it with my own eyes time and time again. Illigetimizing plays a role here, I think also in today’s society, the public housing deters anyone with a felony. Also, the money comes from HUD and their criteria does not allow for those individuals to reside in their communities. So being that these areas are a melting pot for crimes and drugs.
Unfortunately, most of these men try to stay under the radar if possible while residing in public housing. So I think there are more two parent households that exist just not reported or reportable. So the female in the home do not report to social services, child support or public housing for different reasons. I used public housing as an example because non-reporting takes place here most often.