Disadvantages of Marriage

Fidelity: Faithfulness is not a natural state for human beings, especially when they are young adults and their sex drive is at its strongest. Most married sex lives fade over time, which can lead to affairs and other forms of infidelity, such as the use of prostitutes, even in the most well-intentioned people.

Arguments: Many couples get stuck in a rut, repeating the same arguments over and over. The key differences in their personalities never go away. Petty problems, irritating habits, become magnified over time.

Freedom: Marriage restricts the freedom of individual. Single people can happily live their lives pretty much as they please without having to be concerned with the needs or wishes of others.

In-laws: Marriage means that couples have to deal with their partner’s family, which can be a source of problems and conflict.

Extra bureaucracy: Getting married can add lots of extra bureaucracy and red tape to a relationship, especially when the wife changes her name and official documents such as social security, driving licenses have to be changed.

Relationships: Relationships should be purely personal and less formal. Marriage is about seeking approval from the civil authorities, or a religion, when it should just be the two people in the relationship that matter.

Finance: There can sometimes be situations where there are financial disadvantages to being married. Divorce costs can also be huge if you make a mistake and marry the wrong person.

Ceremonies: Marriage ceremonies can be very expensive and extremely stressful. It is not uncommon for relatives to take over and the couple's wishes to be sidelined.

Taboos: Marriage can extend the time that couples stay together in a bad or unhealthy relationship, when it would be better if they split – for instance, where the couple are clearly ill-suited, or even where there is physical or emotional abuse going on, they may be tempted to stay together because of religious or cultural taboos over breaking up the marriage.