ANYONE WITH just a little age is very much aware of dramatic societal changes within their lifetime. Recently, within a week’s time, three news reports brought some focus to society’s attitudes and practices about marriage, divorce and fidelity.

Just the fact that three different articles appeared in that time span reveals how public attitudes have softened over the last 50-60 years.

In the 1950s, a common remark about, and often from, women in college was that they were there to “get their M.R.S. degree,” to find a husband and get married. Supposedly, men were in college to obtain a degree that would make them more successful in a business or profession so they could “support a wife and family.”

With the advent of laws to improve women’s rights and equality, particularly in the workplace, employment boomed for women and now they make up the majority of the workforce.

D-I-V-O-R-C-E, as Tammy Wynette wailed in the country-western song, became much easier to attain and, thusly over time, much less frowned-upon.

Up until the 1960s, having a child out of wedlock was a serious societal stigma. Not so much today, however, as 41 percent of all births in this country in 2008 were to unwed mothers.

It appears a shrinking percentage of people are getting married. Along with changing attitudes, it can pay to stay single since federal law favors unmarried taxpayers in most cases.

Among men age 18 to 34, 75 percent believe marriage is a necessary institution. That percentage among women in the same age group shrinks to 63.

As divorce began to trend upward in the Sixties, marriage at a young age was a definite factor. Maturity at 20 is generally more lacking than at, say, 30. One in five U.S. marriages ends within the first five years. And, in Texas there are more people who’ve been married three times than in any other state.

INFIDELITY has always seemed to be a significant factor in many divorces. That supposition is given support by the revelation in one report that 60 percent of men and half of women will be unfaithful during their marriage.

Apparently, there are even websites billed as “infidelity services.” One such online dating service revealed to a major newspaper that they’d found more success in Texas than anywhere in the country thus far with more than 355,000 people signed up, 108,000 of them women. And, no, the website won’t be listed here. A representative of the service told a newspaper reporter that, in the past year, the number of women newlyweds signing up has shown a dramatic increase.

Bridal and wedding shows or fairs are fairly commonplace, however, recently in Houston there was a Divorce Marketplace, a first-time event. Without reading further, some might assume it was a place to shop for a divorce lawyer. However, there were booths promoting dating services, gym memberships, outings, jewelry, microdermabrasion, scented candles, pet adoption, and, er, ahem, adult novelties. There was even a chiropractor offering “adjustments to alleviate the emotional effects” of divorce.

Some booths were aimed at the challenges facing those who are recent divorcees. One offered a guidebook on single parenting.

Research indicates that the more education and financial independence a woman has, the more likely she is to stay married. In states where fewer wives have paying jobs outside the home, divorce rates tend to be higher.

ALL OF the articles pointed to the range of emotions of those getting a divorce. While many are sad, frustrated and feel isolated, others are relieved. Some view it as an opportunity to start anew.

Little mention was made in any of the articles about faith, religion and morals with regard to marriage success but I suspect that a marriage where the couple has a strong faith and moral code and where there is love and mutual respect, will weather most marital storms.

Willis Webb is a retired community newspaper editor-publisher. He can be reached by email at wwebb@wildblue.net.