Why Gen Z is Rethinking Marriage: Trends, Causes & Future Explained
Marriage has long been regarded as one of the most enduring social institutions—structuring kinship, regulating inheritance, and ensuring social continuity. In societies like India, it has also carried deep cultural, religious, and familial significance. However, for Generation Z (born roughly between 1997 and 2012), marriage is no longer an unquestioned rite. Instead, it is being critically evaluated, delayed, redefined, or, in some cases, rejected. This shift does not signal the collapse of marriage as an institution but rather its transformation under the pressures of economic change, technological influence, and evolving individual aspirations . Gen Z is not dismantling marriage—they are renegotiating its terms. Marriage as a Social Institution: A Brief Context Traditionally, marriage has served multiple functions: Social: Legitimizing relationships and family structures Economic: Facilitating resource sharing and financial stability Cultural:...