This thesis explores individual and social reasons why couples who are in a long-term relationship, do not get married. People are increasingly choosing only for a life together without being married because this is not important for their relationship. It is enough that they love, respect each other, and that they are equal. Other studies and theories find that fewer and fewer couples get married because marriage is no longer socially expected, no longer has a big importance but is merely a formality – just a signed paper. Even when couples have kids, they still do not think about getting married because they function completely normally in this alternative family form without a negative impact on their children. The legal equalization to the married couples also helped the rise of the unmarried couples. Couples also believe that marriage will not change their commitment and feelings for their partner even slightly. Consequently, marriage means nothing to them. Nowadays, the economic independence of women contributed to their decision not to get married because they are no longer dependent on the husband's income. From empirical data, we can see that for most couples marriage is not important at all. So, we can witness an increasing number of couples who do not want to get married now or ever.
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