Forty years ago, marriage provided the sanctioning union necessary for sex, childbearing, and social status, and this "loving" union was for the most part an enduring commitment. As a result of such societal expectations, people married at an earlier age and divorce was strongly discouraged. However, over the past forty years, the social doctrine governing marriage has changed as certain societal standards have relaxed. For example, greater acceptance of premarital sex and cohabitation before marriage has caused the age of marriage to increase. (Statistics Canada, n.d). …
