More than 40% of American women under the age of 45 have lived unmarried with a male partner at some point, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. In 2000, 9.7 million Americans were cohabiting with an unmarried partner of the opposite sex, while 1.2 million lived with a same-sex partner.
Source: http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/CollegeandFamily/Loveandmoney/P118755.asp?GT1=6657
40%? Isnt this a lil too much?
Re: American unmarried couples!
Not really. Lots of people opt to live common-law together rather than getting married. Of course, I highly doubt this 40% applies to Pakistani people as the whole concept of living common-law is out of the question in our culture/religion.
Re: American unmarried couples!
Disgusting
Re: American unmarried couples!
Dragging in Pakistani people in here would get me killed. Lets presume these figures pertain to American christians alone. Ofcourse they cant be including Pakistani and Indian and other muslim inhabitants of the country.
Re: American unmarried couples!
It's still not surprising Zalim. A lot of people prefer living in a common-law relationship rather than getting married. In a lot of respects, it's the same thing as common-law spouses are entitled to a lot of the same rights as married people should the couple eventually part ways.
Re: American unmarried couples!
Common-law or American Mutah? Rights technically are derived from religious injunctions and not social ones.
Re: American unmarried couples!
Zalim, you poor misquided man, you would be surprised exactly how many men here, especially married have a live-in girlfriend while their wife is back at home in Pakistan or even without being married. They live with a girl here, promise marriage, then get engaged in Pakistan, fly back, get married, come back, and either marry here or just continue to string them along. Nearly every guy without his wife here has a girl and some with her here as well.
Never mind all the ones that marry here for the green card and still have a wife in Pakistan.
I do know of one Paki guy who married the girl he was living with here, brought his Paki wife back here, and all three live together. He calls his gori wife his right hand. They all have five kids and it seems to work out, the Paki wife and the American wife get along and are best friends. But that is the only one I know about that was able to make this work.
Don't think that Pakistani just because they are Muslim don't do this.
Re: American unmarried couples!
amen.
Re: American unmarried couples!
Minah ur so smart
Re: American unmarried couples!
Minah, great point, but he’s talking about unmarried, common-law relationships.
I know what you mean though, plenty of married south asian men pose as singles while their wives are back home. Sad and pathetic indeed.
Re: American unmarried couples!
And I just came back to say I wanted to clarify that the majority in that fact are American and 40% is a fair number. Quite a few take a test drive, that is their choice and all the more power to them. No stigma attached to them here unlike other countries. The only time this really bothers me is if there are kids.
Another point aside from that:
I am a practicing Catholic, therefore a christian and there are many devote like I am who never lived with anyone before marriage. Most practicing christians (notice I said practicing) don't live with others nor do they have sex before marriage. A majority of Americans identify as non-practicing christain (to me would be atheist, but whatever). To attribute that practice to christians is wrong.
Do you consider the men I mentioned above practicing Muslims?? (notice the word practicing).
Oh yeah, social relationships have rights also, not at extensive as a marriage, but still there. There is a such thing as a common-law marriage.
Re: American unmarried couples!
Just a question> What difference does a piece of paper make in the way someone feels towards the other? To me living with someone is just cheap and it's wrong. You want the feeling of being maried but you don't want to take on the responsibility that comes with marriage. That's what I think is wrong with common law marriage: you get the "benefits" but don't have as many responsibilities.
Re: American unmarried couples!
I agree sara and it is too easy to throw it away when it gets hard. But people who are doing this aren't hurting anyone but themselves (unless there is kids involved). So basically live and let live.
Re: American unmarried couples!
I guess. But it’s still wrong and cheap and frankly I dont’ have any respect for people who do that 
Re: American unmarried couples!
I HATE it when guys do that!
But to the topic - yeah there are lots of couples opting to live together and not marry. I don't know why they just don't get married. There are lots of gov't benefits you can get by marriage. And you still live together anyway. Difference is that you call that person your spouse.
I hate this "no-strings-attached" approach. Its so socially irresponsible.
Re: American unmarried couples!
It's a new trend I tell you !!!! People have started this whole new fad where they live together, have kids etc- but never get married. I've no idea about the percentages in canada, but Montreal is way up there Im sure. I have two friends in the same situation. One has kids but not married, the other has no kids. But they've been together with the guys hmmm some 6 plus years. Oh well to each their own. But I find it disagreeable. Its not romantic unless theres a wedding involved. I wanna say "husband" not partner. :p
Re: American unmarried couples!
M_Q - totally agree. I think it has to do with the instant gratification syndrome you see so often these days. Oh well....
I see it as a self worth issue. I want the security of marriage and I was willing to date a lot of toads to find the right person to marry and to have a family with. No test drives. And why bring kids into it? That bugs me. At any time either partner can leave a situation where there is no marriage and then what happens to the kids? It's sad.
Re: American unmarried couples!
Yup true. I mean if they are going to live together, have kids etc, why not just get married. And excuses such as “not enough money , no time, whats the point” do not work. If they can make money and time to bring kids into the world, they can hold a simple wedding.
I mean a wedding sort of sets in stone that the two people are “together”. All those who dont get married are just not ready to commit to each other seriously. I think some keep it this way so they can walk out when they wish.
Plus who in their right minds would throw away the chance at being a bride. 
Re: American unmarried couples!
^ Its the commitment that scares the hell out of them. And the thought they may turn into their parents.
"Honey, get me another beer - burp"
"Sorry, I have a headache tonite - not in the mood"
that kind of stuff.
Re: American unmarried couples!
PCG - but it's not just the men, the women feed into it too for some reason. How many times have you seen these days kids from one mother and multiple dads? Women are getting more and more stupid about this as the days roll on.