Is the institution of Marriage under threat? Is marriage losing its sanctity and importance? With the increasing popularity of Live in Relationships where unmarried couples live together under one roof there are reasons why one may think so. Live in Relationships are no more looked at with awe.
Marriage is an institution created by our forefathers where two adults of opposite sex get into a life time agreement which is socially and legally accepted. This arrangement fulfills the requirement of companionship, loyalty, children and even the sharing of responsibilities etc. Now with live in relationships becoming a popular trend many seem to wonder that when you can have almost everything without getting married in a living together relationship why bother with marriage at all.
I talked with a friend who got married after 2 years live in relationship with a guy who is 10 years younger to her because she was so hurt by her first marriage which ended in divorce and also unsure if a relationship with an younger guy would succeed. I hoped to hear that she is very happy with her marriage. But what I heard shocked me. She revealed that when they were in a live in relationship she would often have the guy springing surprises for her by way of surprise dates, gifts or gestures but after marriage she feels the romance is gone and that she is taken for granted. He also happily used to share the work at home and now he seems to have become a lazy bum making her struggle with both home and office work. Before marriage he used to make sure to please her sexual needs and never minded to perform an oral on her. Now he seems to have completely changed making her wonder if she did a mistake by getting married.
There are many reasons why live in relationships are getting more popular by day. Some of the advantages of unmarried couples living together are
Sex
Sharing of house hold chores and bills
No more loneliness
Romance is in the air
Support and Companionship
Freedom without surrendering rights or accepting obligations
Freedom to opt out if things are not working or you are no longer interested
No Financial Complications or Legal Hassles
While the live in arrangement clearly lacks the commitment and acceptability from society and a nurturing atmosphere for children it is ideal for people who want to know each other and experience how a future marriage partnership could be. It is like seeing the movie trailer before buying the movie ticket. And if in case the period of togetherness fails to deepen mutual love and signs of compatibility both will be free to go their own way without any bitterness and legal formalities. It is also popular with guys and girls who want to have their personal freedom without been chained in a relationship. But in many cases women are forced into a live in relationship with promise to marry only to be abandoned later after the man had his fill of her. Thankfully in India, women in live-in relationships were legally protected under the domestic violence act and in January 2008 the Supreme Court also has validated long-term live-in relationships as ‘marriages’ which has attracted a lot of controversy.
However, if two consenting unmarried adults find a live in arrangement happier, who are we to complain. After all, every individual has the right to choose his or her own happiness.
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