I think you're absolutely right about one thing: that the level of trust we've come to require for marriage has skyrocketed due to family law, but what's the al

I think you're absolutely right about one thing: that the level of trust we've come to require for marriage has skyrocketed due to family law, but what's the alternative? Sire children and leave the the burden on women? Furthermore, it's simply crazy to think that you require 4 years to know if you can trust someone. Evidence actually seems to suggest the contrary: longer pre-marriage dating periods are associated with higher divorce rates. Anyway I think it's a mistake to assume that you "know someone" after 4 years or even after 40. People are not static beings, and there's no reason to expect that the longer time you spend with them, the less risky of a choice it will be. In fact that extended period of indecision may actually contribute to eroding trust. And so, as the article seems to argue, the problem is that men are not willing to "be the man", trust themselves and their partner, and embark on a family project with a firm resolve to stay loyal and make things work no matter what.