Why Young People Are Avoiding Marriage in Eastern Societies

The idea of avoiding marriage in our Eastern societies may sound unusual and uncommon, as it is generally believed that someone who chooses not to marry is considered emotionally unstable.

However, what is surprising is that this phenomenon may actually be widespread in our society, though under different names and for various reasons, such as financial circumstances, academic ambitions, and unemployment.

These days, we see many young people refraining from marriage and commitment for a number of reasons. Let’s explore these reasons together, using marriage in Morocco as an example.

Reasons for Avoiding Marriage:

Financial reasons: Sometimes, the main reason for not getting married is purely financial. For example, the rising cost of mahr and general expenses play a significant role.

We often see families greatly exaggerate the requirements for marriage, to the point where it becomes illogical and unreasonable.

This leads some young men to form open relationships with foreign women who do not demand as much financially, such as mahr, a house, jewelry, and other requirements.

Unemployment is one of the main reasons for avoiding marriage:

In our current society, unfortunately, a young man may graduate after nearly 15 years of hard work without finding a single job opportunity. This limits his ability to earn an income, making it difficult to establish a home and fulfill the responsibilities of starting a family.

In such cases, it is only natural for marriage to be postponed until he is able to afford it.

Academic ambition is a common reason for avoiding marriage:

In this century, with rapid scientific and technological progress, education has become one of the most important goals for young women. They strive to achieve their dreams and ambitions, seeking success and personal growth.

As a result, many young women view marriage as something that can be postponed until later.

Acceptance or rejection of the idea of marriage is one of the most influential reasons for avoiding it:

This is due to the increasing number of failed relationships in our time, with divorce rates rising significantly. This has led both young men and women to develop a somewhat negative view of marriage, seeing it as an experience that kills love.

This causes young people to delay marriage until they are older, often only after significant pressure from their families.

Solutions to Overcome Avoidance of Marriage:

For individuals:

Each person should start by making things easier for themselves, avoiding a negative or pessimistic outlook on marriage, and not seeing it as impossible or too difficult to achieve.

Instead, they should think positively and strive to build a successful life, including the ability to create a happy family.

For families:

Families, in general, should avoid excessive demands regarding marriage requirements and not force young men into obligations they cannot fulfill.

For society:

Religious leaders and influential figures in society play an important role here. Raising awareness about the importance of building a happy and healthy family, and the significance of marriage for society, has a major impact on both families and individuals.

It is also important to emphasize that marriage is the legitimate way to raise righteous children who can contribute to the progress and development of society.

These were the main ideas circulating around the topic of avoiding marriage in our society. Although the term may sound strange in an Eastern society that has always valued marriage, circumstances have made this phenomenon a reality.