Nashauna Drummond, Staff Reporter
AS WOMEN'S roles in the 21st century change so do their views of marriage. But, with more women opting to get married at a later date, is marriage becoming a retirement plan?
Growing up, most young girls dream of their wedding day, the flowing white dress, walking down the aisle and all the trimmings. By their mid 20s, they become anxious as the time approaches for that dream to come true. But along the way, women's dreams have changed and their priorities are no longer hinged on getting married and having children.
Thirty year-old Samantha Lakes* says, "My dream life doesn't have to include a man. I never dream about walking down the aisle. I'd like to get married it's just not at the forefront."
SINGLE AND HAPPY
At 30, Stephanie Johnson* is perfectly happy with her single status. When questioned on the issue of marriage she nonchalantly said she's open to the idea. Johnson has a Bachelor's and a master's degree in Literatures of English. She is currently pursuing a masters degree in Philosophy and Cultural Studies as well as studying Spanish, she is a writer and has just published her first children's book of short stories based on Jamaican folklore.
"I'm living in a time when it's acceptable that our sole purpose on earth is not to procreate. It's now acceptable that we are not less than a woman if we are not mothers or someone's wife. It's accepted that women have other purposes in the world than to be at home."
Johnson also admits that she devotes a lot of time to work and this constantly interrupts any chance of socialising.
GROWING TREND
Sociologist, lecturer at the University College of the Caribbean Winniefred Hunter, notes that it's a trend that women are empowering themselves. "They can no longer rely on the men to take care of the household. Therefore they are going after educational pursuits. Women are more responsible and in the average Jamaican household, there is a single parent (usually the mother), so they have realised they have to earn to survive in today's economy. They have opted to put off marriage until they have acquired something for themselves."
And what about the much talked about biological clock ticking away? Hunter notes that more women are saying that if they can't have children they will adopt.
* Names changed on request
