..... no comment

..probably because a child would mean a potential additional source of income.

That is an interesting comment. Is it because you have had a difficult marriage experience or maybe the fact that children are more likely to offer unconditional love? Or both maybe.

... or because some people and cultures value the notion of 'family' over 'self'.

... or, for that matter, 'jollies to Amsterdam'...

Actually, the divorce rate is at 48.4 in Switzerland according to this source. http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/e...nk/key/06.html
Also, people are getting married because that is what socially is expected from them....the same goes with having kids. You are suppose to have a significant other and some kids...otherwise you will be looked down upon by society.

Yes one can get stressed or upset - doesn't mean you should take it out on your partner to the extent that s/he develops their own stress symptoms and fears. If that is happening it needs to be discussed and stopped. If not, IMO, there is something wrong in the relationship.

I also believe that there should never be a reason to hit your partner in anger. Doesn't matter if you are stressed - that's a pathetic excuse IMO. Your other half should be precisely that - half of a union and the person you turn to in times of stress that helps you, just as you help them when they need it.

That all said, it is amazing what some people will put up with in their relationships.

ROFL!

Keep 'em coming!

Especially if you are a woman.

..well that's ones own decision. Funny how in the end, people still chose self over family sadly however always a tad bit too late.

Not really. Run away with your fiancée and leave kids holding cardboard cut-outs of you at the marriage ceremony.

I disagree - I think people walk away from marriages a lot faster these days because society accepts that marriages break down. In my grandmother's generation, a divorced woman was stigmatized... and many women couldn't leave the marriage because of a lack of funds.
I think today's society is rather accepting of all kinds of relationship configurations....even for those to choose to not get married and not have children.

In fact, to highlight this point, my husband works with a 48 year old German man who has never been married, is childless and still lives at home, and is contantly villified by his other German, Swiss, English and Dutch colleagues.

I suspect the most important bit of this is the 'still lives at home'.

I don't recall having ever received grief for being a childless bachelor... occasional envy, perhaps, but never grief.

Thanks for the data.

I (still) don't agree that people are getting married now because that is expected of them. I mean c'mon - do you believe that - really? In 2008?

we did talk about this right? though IMO, as an asian woman? i have PLENTY of pressure to have kids*...but not so much if i was living here in europe...also thank god my brother has produced grandkids for my parents too


*(there is also the pressure to get married but that box is ticked)

try being a single childless woman. I guess it's mostly pity in this case though

That may be so, but the same does not apply to childless 'spinsters'.

The average length of marriage at time of divorce is around 14.5 years. To me that is a long time. That is right around the time when Billy leaves the house more often to play sports or secretly smoke cigarettes behind the house.
I give you right, today's society is more accepting..but it is still a common misconception in people's minds that they have to form a family.

It depends if you come from a big town or a **** hole.
To me it s simple we re lucky to be in countries where we choose our partners and way of life. You feel the pressure that you accept to feel, if you decide you want to have kids without being married, or not to have kids neither the wedding thing, just do it, and don t bother yourself with what people think. You should dod these things because gives you the envy to do them, not because you re the school sweethearts and feel an obligation to

I truly believe so...and the pressure comes from various sources. Friends, family, television, society...

Not in my social spheres.. Maybe only you think it's common.