How Young is Too
Young? Utah Residents Report Youngest Age For Marriage
Nationally
By Lindsay C. Thomson
November 7, 2005 | Hundreds
of crimson roses bring to life a ballroom that shines
from the white lights' reflections on crystal stemware.
There are hundreds of guests talking among themselves,
eating overly priced catered meals and admiring the
only two people standing in the entire room. On the
dance floor, a handsome young man in a black tux and
in his arms, a glowing young lady dressed in layers
and layers of white satin. After the traditional first
dance, she rushes over to her bridesmaids as they hang
onto every word she says.
"I've never been more excited
for anything in my entire life," said Kari Carroll,
the bride who was married just four hours earlier. "And
I've never been more sure of anything in my entire life,
either."
Carroll, a recent graduate from Brigham
Young University, may not have ever been surer of anything
in her lifetime, but at the age of 22 has she really
lived? It is apparent that the majority of those living
in Utah feel marriage at a young age is acceptable.
According to a survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau,
factors such as religion and location have an influence
on the age at which Americans choose to marry.
In the American Community Survey
Indicators
of Marriage and Fertility in the United States,
studies found that the average age of marriage in the
United States for men and women is 26.7 and 25.1, respectively.
Utah has the youngest marriage age in the nation at
the substantially lower ages of 23.9 for men and 21.9
for women. In conducting research for this article,
most people agreed that the Utah community, predominantly
comprised of members of the Church Of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints (LDS church), has an influence on
the age at which individuals choose to marry.
"I think that the LDS church
really stresses the importance of marriage and starting
a family, even if the two people getting married aren't
financially secure," said Ronelle Howard. "I know that
I want to graduate college before I get married, I want
to know that my husband and I are going to be able to
make it and that we really know ourselves and each other
before we make such an eternal commitment."
Marriage at a young age has only
become a trend in the 20th century, according to Dr.
Neil Warren in his article Old Enough
To Know: What is The Right Age to Get Married?.
In the late 1800s the average age for marriage for men
and women was 26 and 22, respectively. During and after
World War 2, many people thought they didn't have time
to spare and thus began marrying at younger ages. Only
since 1988 has the average age of marriage begun to
inch its way back up, said Warren.
As the average age for marriage increases,
so does education. "Later marriage is very strongly
associated with higher levels of education," said David
Pepenoe, co-director of the National Marriage Project
at Rutgers University in New Jersey. On the other hand,
marriage at young age can lead to lower levels of education.
In the 2002-2003 academic school
year, the number of graduates was the lowest it had
been in 10 years, said former USU President Kermit Hall.
While it is not a complete result of marriage, the low
retention rate that USU and other Utah universities
see is partially due to the marriage of students. Often
times a college education is put off or terminated for
women so that they can work to support their husbands
who are earning degrees.
Education is a vital part of life,
enabling humans to provide a comfortable lifestyle and
a plan for a steadier future. Receiving an education
is also one of the four things Darren Provine, a professor
at Rowan University, said should be accomplish before
getting married. Below is the complete list from Provine
and the "milestones you probably want to have passed"
before marriage:
1) Have your bachelor's
degree, and graduate degrees if you plan to get one.
2) Worked at your chosen profession for at least
a year.
3) Lived on your own, paying your own bills and
maintaining your own place, for at least a year.
4) Completed your term of military service, unless
you intend to be career military.
Statistics, professors and doctors
of psychiatry may point out that marriage at a young
age can be detrimental in areas of formal education,
but those who were married at a young age are quick
to fight their side.
"My wife and I got married
at 21 and don't regret it," said Doug Anderson. "I enjoy
being in the prime of our lives, in our mid-40s, and
having this large reservoir of memories and life experiences
which we draw on together. And of course we wouldn't
have this if we hadn't married young."
Like Anderson, there is a plethora
of people who have married young and advise all to do
the same. Whether statistics or personal stories are
more accurate is for the reader to decide, but neither
changes the fact that the people of Utah are renowned
for marrying young and having children at a young age.
And it doesn't look like it's stopping anytime soon.
"I'm so excited to build my
life with this person, to grow and make mistakes and
learn and I can't wait to see where the next 50 years
take us," said Carroll. "I want to do it all while I
still can, I may be young, but I know what I'm doing."
NW
CC |
