How Has Marriage Evolved From The 20th Century?

The topic of marriage this year in the media has come under the spotlight much more than previous years - this year marked the year that gay marriage was legalised across all 50 states in the United States. More than anything other form of communion, to finally see the LGBT community have their basic human right deemed acceptable is a long time coming, but still nonetheless, a great and blessed time for everyone involved. The question being imposed here is though - how has marriage changed and evolved since the 20th century and before?

With a more informed and connected world through the power of technology, we have seen huge strides in acceptance of the individual's choices, if a person wants to marry someone of the same sex, then they should always be granted that right - we should all know that by now, love has no boundaries. Gender roles are slowly beginning to disintegrate completely, the idea of the 'stay at home housewife' is slowly fading, the dominant member of the house can now not only be solely reserved to the male - females have been granted their freedom to be whoever they want to be.

There's a growing belief amongst a certain amount of old fashioned traditionalists that marriage has been too 'libertarian' in our society and that relationships and marriage no longer hold the same power that they once did - is this true? It can certainly be argued that marriages on average last a lot less than they once did, but is this really an issue? If a marriage isn't working between a pair, either the flame has gone out or they were never meant for each other in the first places - it sorts the real ones out from the fakes.

The belief of returning to old fashioned values may appeal to some, and in some cases maybe marriage should return to make sacred times - however the belief of returning to a distant past can never be attainable, what was once the norm can never be the norm again, only a new and comfortable middle ground can be found, with this middle ground we will have the new and more liberated views of marriage available, but with the sacred vows returning to bring together the love of two people who love each other. What's your opinion?