By Anna Meany–
Kim Kardashian’s divorce says more about our generation’s obsession with fairy tales than the millions of dollars in movies, children’s attractions, and books ever will. We’ve devoted hours to her popular television show and wedding special only to have our worst fears shoved in our faces. What value can we place on relationships, and more specifically, marriage, if we run away from them at the first sight of trouble?
After suffering through a 72-day marriage, Kim called it quits with hubby Kris Humphries, raising the eyebrows towards the reality show star. It raises a question: what are our generation’s priorities when it comes to committing to a relationship?
Women like Kim Kardashian suffer from an insatiable desire to be a happy bride. The ceremonial tradition of exchanging vows of love and promise in front of loved ones has somehow become an ostentatious display of wealth often viewed by millions of people on television.
The obvious blame goes to media influence. Shows like TLC’s Say Yes to the Dress only fuel young women’s want to have a dream wedding, while programss like Jersey Shore appeal to the party girl in all of us. I’d like for you to imagine Snooki as a housewife. Apart from the media’s mixed messages, women compete with the supposed American dream, social and family pressure, and, most commonly, the self-satisfaction of finding a life partner. Considering the relationship post-wedding day is the most important and least thought of aspect of marriage. Despite their lack of prominence today, women still suffer from pressures to get marriage and have children; especially in Victorian society, women were considered outcasts when they didn’t adhere to the ideal maternal figure.
And don’t go blaming the so-called emotional women for wanting the dream wedding and marriage; men are just as guilty. Men suffer from the same social and family pressures.
With supposedly 50 percent of all current marriages doomed to end by divorce, one should accept the possibility of an unhappy ending. Pre-nuptial agreements are standard, removing any faith in each person’s spouse. Should we be entering marriage with the open mind to divorce? Certainly some men and women, especially celebrities, envision divorces in the future of their relationship. But can we have value in our relationships while keeping divorce in the back of our minds?
In fulfilling our desire to adhere to social customs and attain happiness, we’ve created relationships without substance. And if a union between two men puts a damper on the ‘sanctity of marriage’, then 72 day-long unions should be outlawed as well.
More on love:
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Photo:Nathan Douglas/The Louisville Cardinal
