Divorce rates amongst college-educated urban Americans are the lowest they’ve been for 30 years, with the concept of divorce reverting to the pre-1970s “failure” mentality, says Pamela Paul.
Marriage
Wikileaks 
The Dagestan wedding of the year
Amongst all the incriminating WikiLeaks embassy cable news lies a a fascinating tale of a rural Russian wedding, which included a “perpetually tipsy” Olympic wrestler named Vakha and a performance by Benya the Accordion King.
How do you fight forced marriages?
If there is a situation worse than being denied the right to marry the person of your choice because you are the same gender, then being forced into marriage against your will would have to be it, writes Shakira Hussein.
Kidnapping of the bride — courting in Kyrgyzstan
They do things differently in Kyrgyzstan. Like courting, for instance, which is seeing a rise in bride kidnapping. As Iva Skoch writes, what was once seen as a custom, is now being recognised as a destructive crime.
Crikey Clarifier: Could your marriage be annulled?
A review of marriage celebrants has found many reciting the marriage vow incorrectly. The legalities mean this could technically render marriages void, explains Crikey intern Jasmin Pfefferkorn.
Mother of the bridezilla
What happened to feminism? We spent years fighting against institutions like marriage, only to turn around and find our daughters donning meringue dresses and wanting dad to give them away, writes an anonymous mother of the bride.
Dowd: All the single ladies put your hands up
It’s total bull that recent US Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan gets referred to by the White House as “unmarried” rather than “single”. Why make her sound depressing? asks Maureen Dowd.
The cult-like marriage retreat that brought us together
Ann Bauer explains how she and her husband escaped from a religious marriage retreat, full of couples who hated each other and wedding night re-creations.
Raquel Welch: The Pill is toxic to society
Yes, The Pill — 50 years old this week — gave women the ability to control their fertility. But by encouraging sex without consequences it has destroyed the institution of marriage, writes “aging sex symbol” Raquel Welch.
The child-brides of Yemen
Over half of girls in Yemen are married off by their fathers before they’re 18, usually to men at least a decade older than them, with girls as young as 10 becoming mothers — and that’s if they’re lucky enough to survive the pregnancy.
Why we’re not tying the knot
Young people aren’t getting married because they are too angsty, scared of divorce, immature and have good birth control. Instead, a new relationship trend has emerged between ‘dating’ and ”til death do us part’, writes Hannah Seligson.
Tiger birdies: he’s just a victim of the times
Tiger Woods’ trysts reveal nothing more than the nature of today’s young male when he finds a willing lover. This is what we happen when we strip marriage of all form of commitment, writes Keysar Trad.
Has Texas accidentally banned marriage?
A constitutional amendment in Texas designed to ban gay marriages may have inadvertently banned all marriages in the state, according to a lawyer and Democratic attorney general candidate.
The private life of the Obamas
Barack and Michelle Obama are known for having one of strongest and most sickly sweet marriages in US political history. Just think of their date nights! NY Times Magazine is running a 10 page indepth feature on the Obamas’ marriage. Go on, you know you want to.
Why smart men should find a well-educated woman
We’re always hanging on for the next big breakthrough in health: a cure for cancer, diabetes, schizophrenia… But the next big breakthrough has already come, says Melissa Sweet: it’s education.
Keysar Trad: My humble contribution to the polygamy debate
Decriminalising polygamy and removing its social social stigma will further guarantee the rights of women, argues Keysar Tradin response to Shakira Hussein’s piece in yesterday’s Crikey.
What are the secrets to a happy marriage?
A variety of well known bloggers give out their marriage secrets, from pancakes and coffee in the mornings to writing love notes and having drunken sex whenever possible.
Deveny: marriage is a total crock
I am against gay marriage. I’m against straight marriage. I’m against marriage full stop. Why are we hanging on to this relic of an anachronistic system (which still reeks of misogyny and bigotry)? asks Catherine Deveny today.
graph pr0n The marriage season
When do Australians like to get married? Possum has a big look at Monday’s ABS relationships data to dish the dirt on which season we prefer to get hitched, what age we’re getting married and how long it’s lasting.
Why marriages need lies
There’s this new spate of advice talking about how lying is bad for a relationship. What bollocks, says Raina Kelley.
Divorce can kill
Divorce doesn’t just make your poorer. People who are divorced or widowed are 20% more likely to suffer issues like cancer, heart disease and diabetes.
When did marriage lose its spark?
Cristina Nehring, author of the ambitious polemic A Vindication of Love thinks marriage has become dull, a lenonine passion reduced to “a yawning, chubby house cat”, writes Meghan O’Rourke.
Nehring yearns for a revival of a messier ardor.
Bring on the ecofetti: weddings go green
Environmentally conscious brides and grooms are fuelling a new trend in eco weddings.
Mr & Mrs Traylor-Hooker
Couples who really shouldn’t hyphenate their last names.
Keysar Trad: UK is right to recognise polygamy
Recently, the UK government gave formal recognition to a human practice that dates back to the Old Testament. It was a mature decision, writes Keysar Trad.
