With millennials overtaking baby boomers as the largest living adult generation in the US, the focus is on this group characterized by high levels of education and racial diversity. Their numbers continue to grow as younger immigrants enter the country.
The oldest in this generation turned 40 this year, and they are different from the generations that came before them. Millennials are the first generation to grow up immersed in digital technology. They are tech-savvy, educated, and health-conscious. Millennials are also optimistic and careful with their finances.
These characteristics play a significant role in the way they view family life and their marriage rates. Here are some things that the uniqueness of millennials when compared to the generations that came before them.
Less Likely to Live with a Family
Millennials are less likely to live with a spouse and a child compared to previous generations. But they are more likely to live with their parents or other members of the family. Only three out of ten millennials live with a spouse and a child, which is lower than the percentages of generation X and the baby boomers at a comparable age.
But around half of this generation do not live with a family at all. The figure is higher than the 34 percent and 31 percent of generation X and boomers, respectively. One of the reasons for this situation is that they focus more on their career than starting a family, especially among women.
Even though they plan to get married in the future, millennials pursue careers that allow them to support their families. And they feel that need to get ahead in these careers before they settle down. The situation is more pronounced among women who bear a heavier load when balancing their career and family life. And the pandemic made life more challenging for married millennials as they had to take care of the homeschooling needs of their children while working.
Marry Later in Life
The need to become economically stable compelled many millennials to marry later in life. Some even opt not to get married if they find their situation untenable for married life. This attitude pushed back the median age for getting married to 27 years old for women and 29 years old for men.
Aside from the economic situation, many millennials also do not find married life appealing. They also do not find it appealing to conform to the traditional concept of marriage. Instead, some prefer the idea of cohabitation or co-parenting rather than going through the process of getting married.
Despite this mindset, many women still like to get married. But at a later age. Many of them have a bachelor’s degree, while others are pursuing a master’s degree. This shows that they focus on improving their economic status first before starting a family, which pushed back the average marrying age by several years.
Low Divorce Rate
Since millennials marry at a later age, they become more financially stable by the time they get married. The financial stability comes after they finish college and have a stable job after graduation. In this situation, millennials are in a more stable relationship with their partner.
The stability in the financial capability and relationship among millennials contributed to a better marriage. It also resulted in lower divorce rates. The lower divorce rates reflect the better relationship between partners. It also reflects the openness of millennials when it comes to communicating with their partners. Better communication allows partners to strengthen the bond between them.
Despite the lower divorce rate, there are still some situations that cause partners to separate. And when couples contemplate divorce, they should get a reliable family law attorney to ensure they get the necessary information to make informed decisions. The lawyer should have suitable experience in this legal practice area to guide them on what they need to do to make the process simple and uncomplicated.
Tend to Live with a Romantic Partner
Millennials are also more likely with their romantic partner than the other generations. They also tend to cohabit or live with their partner even before they get married. This living situation is more common in this generation compared to the previous ones.
And within the generation, millennials who have no college education tend to live with a partner more than those with a college degree. The living situation of millennials has contributed to a better marriage compared to other generations and lowered the divorce rate within their generation.
The optimism and open-mindedness of millennials contribute to their unique view of family life. It also prepared them for marriage and allowed them to stay longer with their partners than other generations.
