Final answer:
The claim that people today are marrying at the youngest age since before the 1960s is false. There has been a trend of marrying at a later age due to factors such as single parenting and cohabitation, a focus on personal goals, and changing societal norms.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that people today are marrying at the youngest age just before the 1960s is false. Historical patterns of marriage have shifted dramatically over time. In the post-World War II period, the average age at first marriage dropped; men married around the age of twenty-three and women around twenty. However, over the past several decades, there has been a trend towards getting married at a later age. This change reflects broader societal shifts such as the increasing acceptability of single parenting and cohabitation, as well as a focus on personal goals like education and career over early marriage.
Contemporary surveys and research indicate a significant shift in attitudes towards marriage and family structure. The liberalization of divorce laws and women entering the workforce have contributed to changes in the institution of marriage. Today, with an increase in the age at which people get married and a higher level of education among those who marry, there is a tendency for greater marital stability. Additionally, concepts of marriage are dynamic, adapting to changing social and economic conditions, and in places like Iceland, a significant number of children are born to committed but unmarried couples. This reflects the changing nature of social norms around marriage and family.