Influence of the Media on Marriage

For two nights, E! Network aired Kim's Fairytale Wedding: A Kardashian Event. This million-dollar union between reality TV star, Kim Kardashian, and New York Nets’ power forward, Kris Humphries, was viewed by millions of fans. Ironically, this union did not have a fairytale ending; after 72 days, the couple filed for divorce. What happened to the days where weddings weren’t as important and divorce was frowned upon? The sanctity of marriage seems to have declined as the media is corrupted by stars that take such institution so lightly.

Our society today views marriage as an old-fashioned unnecessary act that can be viewed with much laxness. You can get married for fun and if you do not like the outcome, you can easily get a divorce. Statistics show that marriages have declined while divorces have been getting more common.

Figure 1. U.S. Marriage and Divorce Rates, from National Vital Statistics Reports. The Family

  in  America. Web. 3 November 2012. http://www.familyinamerica.org/index.php?doc_id=33&cat_id=14

• Almost 1 in 3 women think that marriage is no longer necessary or relevant in today’s society. (Vitabiotics Wellwoman)
• Between 1960 and 2000, the number of cohabiting unmarried partners increased tenfold. (U.S. Census Bureau, 2000)
• 55% of Americans approve of men and women living together without being married. (Gallup, 2007)

Are there any successful marriages?

With that being said, there still exist successful marriages, both in and out of Hollywood. The unfortunate fact is that they are not nearly praised or given much attention as unsuccessful marriages. Sure, when couples first get married there is a big fuss about the event itself—the dress and the venue. But the media’s focus remains not on the love shared between the long lasting couples but on stars that easily give in to marriage and fail to stay together.

What is destroying the sanctity of marriage?

This focus is what’s destroying the sanctity of marriage. Hollywood celebrities, with the amount of attention they receive, are one of the most influential people in the culture we live in today. And with so many celebrities living together without being married or having children out of wedlock, acts that were once highly discouraged and frowned upon is approved by the generation today. Instead of viewing these stars as notorious examples not to be followed, they are praised despite their failed marriages. Today’s pop culture’s opinion of marriage has utterly been destroying the sanctity and value of marriage.

Works Cited

McManus, Michael J. "The Family in America." The Family in America. The Howard Center for Family, Religion & Society, Spring 2011. Web. 01 Nov. 2012. <http://www.familyinamerica.org/index.php?doc_id=33>.

"Media Influence on Youth." Media Influence on Youth. Crisis Connection, Inc., 5 Sept. 2012. Web. 02 Nov. 2012. <http://www.crisisconnectioninc.org/teens/media_influence_on_youth.htm>.

Schoen, Robert, and Robin M. Weinick. The Slowing Metabolism of Marriage. 4th ed. Vol. 30. Baltimore: Department of Population Dynamics, 1993. Print. Demography.

"Statistics." Statistics. Alternatives to Marriage Project, 2012. Web. 02 Nov. 2012. <http://www.unmarried.org/statistics.html>.

U.S. Marriage and Divorce Rates, from National Vital Statistics Reports. The Family in  America. Web. 3 November 2012. http://www.familyinamerica.org/index.php?doc_id=33&cat_id=14

Vitabiotics Wellwoman. "Marriage Is No Longer Relevant in Today's Society." PR Newswire UK United Business Media. PR Newswire, n.d. Web. 05 Nov. 2012. <http://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/marriage-is-no-longer-relevant-in-todays-society-153713105.html>.