I have always been under the impression that women were the marriage hungry creatures that men portrayed them to be in society. Until I began to date seriously. I must disagree with this old wives tale. I am 21 years old and have never desired to marry or have children. I love men, don't get me wrong, I just don't feel like i have to have a man contracted to be with me. I think that this attitude is being more widely accepted in society these days. And as far as the cliche that men just want to have fun, I must contest that too. I have been proposed to twice in three years by guys I thought did not want any commitment. I used to get all sorts of questions as to why I did not want to marry or have children. What is wrong with you? was popular, so is"Are you gay?", or "Oh, its just a phase". Why is it so unacceptable to be a single girl and just have fun? The men are the ones that usually question it the most. Why would i want to sign a contract saying that I will only be with one person for the rest of my life? Maybe when I'm 80 and have traveled the world and done every possible thing that I want to accomplish in life. I think that people don't realize how badly MEN yearn for marriage and desire to care for a little lady. It seems like every guy i meet starts talking commitment from the get go. Even if they say they don't want or need it, society has too pressured men to marry and to be good providers, even if that goal is unattainable for them. I was born and raised in the South and there comes an unimaginable amount of pressure to marry young and have children. My friends don't understand why I am not married to the guy I have been dating for four years. I think people, especially in the South rush into marriage partially to please other people. I don't see the need to hurry and marry somebody if you are not absolutely sure that person is the only one for you, and how do you know that they are? I feel that marriage is destined for some people and that is great, but the majority of the time it only benefits one person more likely than not will end in divorce