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Don't forget, women demand equality in the workplace... or they'll sue.

At the same time, the same women who demands to be treated exactly like a man... will expect to get alimony, custody and most material possessions jointly owned with her husband in the event of a divorce.

Right now, women want it both ways.

When courts give custody to men in 50% of divorce cases, and alimony to men in 50% of divorce cases... then men and women are truly equal. Until then, forget about it.

Smart men will continue to accelerate the marriage strike.

"The reason marriage is waning is the women's movement. The traditional family structure is just not compatible with a society in which every woman works in the market place."

That's a mistake, placing blame on one gender or the other is not helpful. Changes for the worse in our societies is the real culprit. I bet my life on this, that there is a corresponding increase in infidelity and "one night stands" at the expense of matrimony.

How can we attribute one particular factor to this trend? I do not think we can, falling church attendance, lack of a moral and ethical framework, teenage sexual promiscuity and gangster culture role models, nuclear family is a thing of the past........

WHY ARE WE SURPSIED THAT MATRIMONY IS FADING FAST?

"The traditional family structure is just not compatible with a society in which every woman works in the market place."

While I agree with you, how do we reverse the trend of the current generation of men that want it all and want it now (McMansion, two or more cars, kids, electronic gadgetry) that require two incomes to support? You can't possibly blame the "wants" of one sex on the other. Granted, women can be willing accomplices in the "gimmies" but unless you marry someone that lives simply in the first place, how do couples get around the Two Income Trap?

It's taken me nearly 10 years to rein in my husband's spending. Whereas I can live on little, he is one of those "it's only money, I'll make more" types.

My solution was getting my own financial house in order, cutting up my credit cards, paying off my car; basically being debt-free myself then dropping out as an "income source" for all of his stuff.

Harsh? Yes. Eye-opener? Yes. Was I initially guilty of being a "spending enabler" to my husband? Yes. Did it work for us? Yes.

I've never relied upon anyone else's income to support me, nor will I ever unless I'm disabled in some way. I worked at least part time when my boys were small. They turned out fine. Two are college bound, one is finishing high school.

Kind of OT from the article, but the important point in my rambling is to not let the "wants" of your spouse jeopardize your own financial well-being, or the bottom line of the family as a whole. Learning the fine art of Money Management can go a long way towards keeping a marriage together, one income or two.

Marriage is waning for a lot of reasons. It's a complex problem that has to do with the entertainment media, untreated mental health problems, economic factors, and people not being taught how much work marriage actually is, among the few I can think of.

My husband and I just celebrated our 11th wedding anniversary, and there have been a few times over those 11 years that I wanted to just teleport myself right out of it. It happens in every marriage. It's a feeling that can be overcome and worked through as long as both parties involved are responsible enough to their own commitments to do what it takes. Fortunately, we worked out our issues and then we go along until something else gets out of whack, and have to go through it again.

I am a very independent woman. In fact I am the major bread-winner in the household at the moment. I could have just left without a whole lot of impact to myself or my finances, but I didn't. It's because of the way I was raised, to honor my commitments, no matter how hard it is.

So, at least using me as an example, you can't say that independence, women working, or the women's movement has anything to do with it. It's all attitude and what people are willing to put up with and what they aren't, and what the reasons for that are.

not wanting women to work is quite sexist. I think that for a family to work well, a parent needs to be at home. however, saying that because you view women as weak that the woman has to be at home is just wrong. IF you want, why dont you stay at home? A woman has just as much right to work and have the other parent stay at home - women dont have a monopoly on being able to raise children.

"The reason marriage is waning is the women's movement. The traditional family structure is just not compatible with a society in which every woman works in the market place."

Agreed. And unfortunately the same men who are whining about women stepping out of traditional roles are the same men forcing their wives out in to the workforce, even when it isn't a financial necessity. (And they complain that women "want it all".)