> it also allowed people to make carefree choices when choosing a mate Lets flip that coin... Religion/tradition forces people to get married before they actua

> it also allowed people to make carefree choices when choosing a mate Lets flip that coin... Religion/tradition forces people to get married before they actually knew each other well. Then they move in together, have kids and must stay together forever. I feel like 'we need to get married to live together' is way more in the realm of perverse incentives. In the 70's, people on average married around age 22. Right now that's closer to age 29. Which one seems more carefree to you? To me it's the getting married at 22 without having lived together.