Our first topic of study includes who marries whom. In general, American people tend to marry individuals of the same social and economical class. Some marriages do occur outside this class, however they usually do not move very far. Women are more likely than men to marry for the purpose of attaining a higher social status (Collins and Coltrane 265). Religion and race also determine who people tend to marry. During the 1960’s, there was a tendency in America to marry within your own religion. For example, 79% of Catholics, 91% of Protestants, and 92% of Jews married someone within their religion. Today, religious intermarriages in America are more common. For instance, 40% of Jews marry non-Jews (268). Likewise, 98% of all marriages take place within the same race. Interracial marriages have been a recent development. Until 1967, 17 states declared interracial marriage illegal. The most common

In conclusion, marriage has various effects on people. These effects may be contingent on such factors as race, religion, age, and economical stability. Some individuals are impacted in a positive manner such as the promotion of multiculturalism that stems from interracial marriages. While some impacts are negative such as the hardships that working class people face when they marry at a young age. Generally speaking, Americans view marriage in a pessimistic light as indicated by the decline in teen confidence. However with further increase of reforms in American school systems, just as Florida schools are doing, the divorce rate may again drop while marriage rates will rise.

Although the marriage rate has gone down, the divorce rate has gone up. The Rutgers National Marriage Project researches why the rate of marriage is at such a low. The results of this July 1999 study show that rates have fallen to a 40-year low. One reason for this lies in the fact that teen confidence in marriage is decreasing. They have little to no positive role model to follow and therefore become pessimistic about their chances for having a successful marriage themselves. Alternatives to marriage such as cohabitation and unwed parent hood are slowly becoming more socially acceptable according to the report and therefore young people opt for those alternatives (Popenoe p1of2). Women are especially pessimistic about their chances for a successful marriage. Fifty percent of marriages are expected to end in divorce or permanent separation (Ponenoe p1of2). Obviously Americans prospective on marriage is not entirely optimistic.

There are other perspectives to help explain what effect marriage is having on a national level. According to Mary Otto of the Knight Ridder Newspapers, marriage may have a positive effect on individuals in this country. A new Florida law compels high schools to offer “marriage and relationship” skills classes. Louisiana and

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