Maybe Later

Recently at work I’ve been digging up some audience research for a new campaign. As a part of my research I’ve been looking at recent marriage statistics. Marriage isn’t a topic I’m particularly interested in except that I just watched the second installation of Sex & the City and it too is all about marriage. Marriage seems to be a big topic suddenly. My mom for some strange reason keeps hinting to me that one day I will be quote: 40, single, and alone. Luckily I have 18 years to disprove her, so I’ll table the idea for the next few years. I always like to prove a point, so in the meantime I’ll use my marketing research as ammunition against my mom’s empty nest syndrome and premature desire for grand-babies (yeah that too). A mother really knows how to freak you out.

The more educated you are, the more likely you are to be married.
Opposite of what you thought? It was a surprise to me too. Overall since the 1970s, the US population has become more educated and marriage rates have dropped. However, among US born 30 to 44 year olds, the more educated you are, the more likely you are to be married (and happily married). What’s the reason? More educated people are more likely to marry for companionship and love, and not for financial security. College educated women tend to marry later, have fewer children, and are least likely to divorce. Hmm… sounds like somebody I know.

On the contrary, less educated people are more likely to get divorced!

College educated men tend to marry college educated women
People are most likely to marry someone whose education level is the same as their own. What does this mean? Well it directly correlates with dolla dolla bills yo. The more educated you are the more likely you are to have a higher income. Educated attracts educated so the aftermath is the addition of two higher incomes. Not only are you more well off if you are college educated, but even more so when you get married! Money can’t buy you happiness, but if less educated people = less income = more divorce, well neither can no money. When I decide to think about a marriage and potentially children, you know other people then myself, I like the idea of things not being difficult but enjoyable. So for me, its better to work on my grind now and getting to a place where such things come naturally to me (natural in the not unexpected way).

So the future’s looking bright for me. I’m going to one day be happily married with lots of money. See ma, you’ve got nothing to worry about. You can live with me one-day and watch my kids if I have any. Except for one other side-note… what if I don’t want any of that? What if I’m perfectly happy being 40, single, and alone? Who knows, maybe I’m more of a Samantha Jones – minus the voracious appetite for sexual liaisons.