This rickety new system [marriage] has sort-of worked so far, but only on inertia. While it may not matter whether the resources come from a husband, ex-husband, boyfriend, or taxpayer, the system does hinge on there being husbands, ex-husbands, boyfriends, and taxpayers who are producing more than they consume for themselves. Men have done this so far because that’s what’s been expected of them, but more and more are realizing that they have no incentive to do so. Sure, they could try to marry and start a family, but half of marriages end in divorce, a supermajority of divorces are unilaterally inflicted by wives on their husbands, and the wife is all but guaranteed custody of the family along with most of its property and a large chunk of the husband’s future earnings.
Further discussion around a few pieces I’ve linked to lately. I ask the question again, is this a complete societal shift or are we simply seeing a dip among a very distinct class of males? The logic proposed in the section I linked to is sound but it’s only a small part of the companionship puzzle.
I’m really curious how this will play out over the next 10 years.