When my friend recently told me that she never wanted to get married, I was confused. She had a loving partner, a daughter, and a son on the way. “I don’t think there’s anything wrong with other people getting married, but I just don’t see the point for me.”
As a newlywed myself, my initial reaction was to try to convince her otherwise. What about the liberation of commitment, the joy of a wedding, the tax benefits?! But after I swallowed my inclination to proselytize, I started reflecting on why I cared so much. Why was marriage an institution I was willing to stump for?
I’m not alone in my inclination to impose the institution on others. Everywhere from the Atlantic to the Times to Fox News seems to be making the case that marriage can be a panacea for many of our individual and societal ills.
This week’s piece explains how we got to a place where less than 50 percent of American households are composed of married couples and whether or not that’s a problem. Like the best magazine stories, it made me think differently about an issue I thought I understood.
Here’s the piece: The Return of the Marriage Plot
Personal updates:
I wrote two articles this week. The first is on how full-time jobs are underrated in an age of performative lifestyle design. The second is on a startup that’s creating a network of hubs for digital nomad families around the world.
Warmly,
Simo
P.S. I got to see one of my favorite bands, Onda Vaga, play in Barcelona this week. The song of the week is their biggest hit, a mix of Manu Chau and a carnival dance party. The full songs of the week playlist is here.