It wasn't so long ago (1980, to be exact) that the average age of American women marrying for the first time was 22. Less than 30 years later, the average age for a first marriage has jumped to 26 for women and 28 for men. In a recent column for the Washington Post, Mark Regnerus argues that this trend is dangerous because women are putting off marriage during their most "marketable" years, before they have to "beg, pray, borrow and pay to reclaim" their fertility. He writes: "Marriages that begin at age 20, 21 or 22 are not nearly so … Read More

Just when we thought it was fine for a woman to marry at any age she damn-well pleased, some guy in Texas has come along to correct us.

And sadly, the guy is not just any guy, but a sociologist who teaches at a legitimate university (University of Texas-Austin) and publishes books that are considered academic (the latest is titled Forbidden Fruit: Sex and Religion in the Lives of American Teenagers).

His name is Mark Regnerus. And in a new piece for the Washington Post, he says that — while he sees no issue with the fact that men are marrying … Read More

Love Bytes: three must-click love and relationship links.

Interracial marriages are on the rise in the U.S., but Hispanic and Asian immigrants are increasingly marrying within their race. [Washington Post]

The generation that is coming of age is the most open-minded in history and living in the Obama era -- where hues mingle in classrooms, nightclubs and the White House. Conventional wisdom has it that they will begin choosing spouses of other ethnicities as the number of interracial marriages rises.

But scholars delving into the U.S. Census have found a surprising converse trend. Although interracial marriages overall have increased, the rate … Read More

It was only a few weeks back that the New York Times introduced the world to the DABA Girls, and that the proletariat of the blogosphere nearly went ballistic. Pretty, young, and according to their webpage, accustomed to a "monthly Bergdorf's allowance…and bottle service," the gals said they formed Dating A Banker Anonymous because of their difficulties in coping with their sugar daddies' shrinking wallets. Well, gentle readers, it turns out that a lot can happen in a few weeks. NPR raised doubts about the story. Newsweek found out directly from the members that their website and … Read More

That cheating husband of yours actually may not be heeding the call of his "little brain" and instead heeding the call of his "big" one: Swedish scientists found that heterosexual men with two copies of a gene variant (called an allele) were twice as likely to report marital problems.

Women married to men with one or two copies of the allele also reported being less satisfied in their marriages, especially in regards to the couple's intimacy and ability to connect. The Washington Post calls the study "the first time that science has shown a direct link … Read More

My boyfriend and I used to have an NYC-DC long-distance relationship. Every other weekend one of us would traverse the eastern seaboard by car, bus, train and sometimes plane to spend 36 hours cuddling under the covers, eating banana-nut pancakes and watching downloaded episodes of Battlestar Galactica. When it was my turn I hopped the 6:20 pm Amtrak to get to the capital in time for a late dinner and spent Sunday afternoon squished into a Chinatown bus wondering why my driver was smoking a bong at the rest stop. (True story.) I only spent about $150 a month on … Read More

It just so happens that there is an amicable, sane way to see the other side of a divorce, says Jennifer Huget of washingtonpost.com: "Getting divorced isn't anyone's idea of a good time. But doing it right can set the stage for a happier life for you, your ex and your kids. Here are tips from five divorce experts -- three men, two women, four of them divorced themselves (two of them twice) -- for getting through it."

Maybe Pam Anderson should have a look-see? She must be pretty versed the art of the break-up these days...Check out the … Read More