Reasons for marrying young?

Question

So why do you think there's a lot of people (specifically in the southern states) who are getting married before they are 25?

What do you think their reasons are?

Answer 1

Not good ones--as they are just slightly past the age group with the highest divorce rate.

Maybe they're religious, and wait for sex till marriage
Maybe they are pregnant
Maybe they are simply in love
Maybe they're entering an 'arranged" marriage
Maybe they want to have their children while they're young enough to run after them--have fun with them...

Answer 2

I got married at 23, a year after we graduated from college. It was hard for us to both relocate and find jobs right away together, so being married made more sense for us. It wasn't for sex, oddly enough you can do that when you're NOT married. It was because we loved each other and knew that whether we waited 5 years or 5 months we would be getting married anyway. We both have college degrees, my husband has masters as well, so it's not bad education either...

we realize that we married young, but we're also holding off on having kids until we're older, so that we can just spend time working on our marriage

Answer 3

I don't think they are very good reasons. Most people I've seen that marry young dont last. Now adays you need to get to know someone alot better.... I think some are pressured into getting married, maybe because they are living together or have children together.... Alot of times they may be afraid of losing their boyfriend/girlfriend to another person and feels the need to be married sooner. Other times they think that their first love is the one they should marry and aren't looking at the long term, or haven't gotten to know "the real them" before taking such a big step. Marriage is a lot of work, and is one of the most important steps in life to take-but the problem is most people don't realize that. :-)

Answer 4

Reasons? Too many to mention all. But I like to think that at least in some cases it is because they love each other. Maybe they want to have and rise kids that they love as well. They hope those kids grow up so they have also kids. And maybe, if they are lucky enough they can see the children of they're children grow and get marry. And all that because life is great even though sometimes it seams like an endless drama.

Answer 5

I'm from the South and married young (19). It's the way my family has always done it. My grandparents married at 14. My mother and aunts married around 18. My siblings married from 16 to 18. Half are still married. I'd say we do it out of tradition. I would agree with some other answerers who said it's no different than Northerners shacking up and having kids with people they don't marry. We just marry them first because of religion/tradition so it seems more moral.

Answer 6

The reasons are a greater belief in conservative values. In the Northeast, for example, you are more likely to find a secular-kind of attitude. Not so in Southern churches. In general, it's a bad idea to go through several 'live in' situations where you act out the roles of spouse without being married. Since 'spouse' means something in the conservative value system, become husband and wife. Learn what commitment is by living it.

Answer 7

I had gotten married when I was 19. but my husband is currently in the army. and for your g/f or b/f to go with you, you have to be married. I have noticed a lot of people getting married at a young ago living on base. but my husband and I have known each other for a very long time. so we didn't rush into anything.

Answer 8

Love? A willingness to commit to another human being? An interest in beginning a family and wanting to give that family the optimum start? A strong moral code? A religious background?

I think it's great that couples are actually committing to marriage and family rather than doing the baby-mama/baby-daddy thing that has come into vogue during the past 10 years or so. It's good to see responsibility, love and commitment making a comeback.

Answer 9

I would say sex is a big part of it, in the South it seems like a lot more morale is taught through the families and kids feel more guilty having unwed sex. Also, a lot more girls are wanting children at a young age. If the girl becomes pregnant the parents freak out and force her to marry the guy. Plus, kids are taught marriage is wonderfully and you're life isn't fulfilled until you are married and have your own family.

Answer 10

I think getting married anytime after 21 is just fine. Most gals I know who married in their 20s were married before 24 (MN).

Love
Wanting to enjoy marriage before having a family.
Economic advantages.
Living together is unacceptable.
Wanting to start a family early due to foreseeable medical problems.
Ready to buy a home (can't because one income is not enough).
Religious reasons
Way to leave home (more or less economic advantage again).
Uncomfortable home situation
Sick of dating -wants commitment.
Regular sex.

Answer 11

My adopted sister is one of them she married an illegal hispanic guy who needed her to stay in the country so I think she married him to feel needed and loved, my mom adopted her at the age of 12 and did her best to love her and give her all the love and attention she needed but she just had such a need to be loved and needed the attention. In this day in age parents just dont have the time to devote to their kids because of the rising cost of living both parents just needed to work. So kids are looking for love other places, but in reality these marriages arent lasting very long because these kids arent finding out who they really are before they are committing themselves to someone else.... which to me is key in any relationship