Modern Romance

01How does growing up slowly affect when we get married?

Aziz Ansari and Eric Klinenberg, in their deep dive into the world of modern love, talk about a fascinating concept called 'emerging adulthood.' This is a fancy term sociologists use to describe a new phase of life that's popped up in recent years, mostly in Western cultures. It's that weird time in your 20s and early 30s where you're not quite a kid anymore, but you're also not quite a full-blown adult. It's a time of self-discovery, a bit of instability, and a whole lot of figuring out who you are and what you want. To get a handle on how this has changed the game of love, Ansari and Klinenberg chatted with some older folks who tied the knot back in the day. A lot of them married someone who lived just a stone's throw away from their childhood home. This wasn't unusual back then. In fact, a study from 1932 found that a third of married couples in Philadelphia lived within five blocks of each other before they said 'I do.' But this 'emerging adulthood' thing has really shaken up the marriage scene. Nowadays, people are waiting longer to get hitched. They're finishing school, climbing the career ladder, and playing the field before they settle down. Marriage isn't the first step into adulthood like it was for folks in the 1950s. Now, it's more like the final boss. The older folks Ansari and Klinenberg talked to didn't have this 'emerging adulthood' phase. A lot of them, especially the women, felt like they missed out. They were under their parents' thumb until they got married, and tying the knot was their ticket to freedom. Some even split from their husbands when divorce became less taboo, craving the freedom and self-discovery that comes with 'emerging adulthood.' So, this 'emerging adulthood' thing has really changed the marriage game. It's pushed back the age of marriage, given people more time to figure themselves out, and shifted what society expects from marriage. It's a mixed bag, though. On one hand, it offers more freedom and chances for self-growth. On the other, it can lead to feelings of instability and uncertainty.