In an age of constantly changing social norms, the topic of marriage and children is one that has shifted and evolved over time. With pop culture figures such as DDG, Skai Jackson, and LiAngelo Ball displaying their parental life through social media, it’s clear to see how often young people are reproducing out of wedlock. While some students are still hopeful for their FAMU love story ending in matrimony, others have a more liberal approach to partnership.
According to a report done by Brookings University, 91% of men aged 30-50 in the 1970’s earning the median salary were married, today that number has decreased to a whopping 64%. Economic conditions, societal norms, and social media are just a few reasons that could be related to declining marriage rates. Brookings also reports that some marriages are taking longer to occur due to the increase of career opportunities for women outside the home. Second year accounting scholar Jerome Parris says that social media plays a part in this change of perception.
“I think social media creates a parasocial relationship between celebrities and viewers, that sometimes manipulates the viewers head and opinions, creating a fast lifestyle where marriage isn’t really in the picture, “said Parris. He says that the structure of marriage has been altered, and that marriage is only government documents. “I don’t even value marriage. Marriage used to be seen as a pride thing, most Gen-Z kids didn’t grow up in a two-parent household, that nuclear family dynamic was disrupted…it’s not a badge of honor anymore.”
While other students still think matrimony is something that should be a staple in life. Second year business administration student, Morgan Walker, says she will take the old-school route.
“Marriage adds a layer of protection, I’m kind of just old school, I think Gen-Z is more open with other ideas. I’d rather be an ex-wife than a baby mama,” said Walker.
Fourth year business administration student, Donovan Miller-Lowe, agrees.
“Marriage is a lifelong commitment, it’s something that you should take your time to do. I personally did not grow up in a two-parent household, and I saw the way it affected me. I wish I could have that, so that is something I want to provide for my future offspring,” said Miller-Lowe.
According to the CDC, 39.8% of all babies are born to unmarried women. In the state of Florida, that percentage is even higher at 46.1%. When asked about celebrities having children out of wedlock, graduating actuarial science student, Taylor Geiger, says that social media has changed the way people act. Apps such as Instagram and X are so readily accessible and often a part of most people’s everyday lives, these apps can warp perception.
“I think it’s common in the Gen-Z era, I don’t know why, but I think people just mirror what they see, and they mimic what they see on social media. We need to put our phones down, babies are
not something you can give back,” said Geiger. “You absolutely can raise a child without being married, but I think people need to take things a lot more seriously than they do.