The term “nuclear family” is relatively new, but the concept has existed for thousands of years. Usually, a nuclear family is composed by two married parents with one, two or more children, and it is a relatively important part of the American tradition.

However, there is a slow but steadily increasing trend of outside-of-marriage births. A 2011 study from NGO Child Trends points out that not only has there been an increase in births outside of marriage, but also that it affects women under 30 more than any other group. For women under 30, more than half of the total births come from a non-marital relationship, according to the study.

The fact that marriage is losing ground among the so-called “Y Generation” does not surprise. Kerry McCabe, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’15. She said she thinks “it makes sense…as people are living a more modern lifestyle, especially women.”

More than half of the 15 students questioned knew someone their age with children, and most of these parents were not married. “I went to [high] school with several girls who gave birth… but marriage was always out of the equation,” said Andrew Ortaz, FCLC ’15.

What seems to be more of an issue is the age of women when they have a child. The term “teenage mother” has become a common term in politics and in culture, thanks to MTV’s “16 and Pregnant” and “Teen Mom.” McCabe said, “I went to high school with girls who were having babies, and they were 17 or 18 years old, and I definitely think that it is not okay because they [were] so young and not ready.” In 2009, 87 percent of the teenage pregnancies were outside-of-marriage according to the Child Trends study.

The way marriage is seen is certainly changing. A couple of decades ago it was seen as a necessity to ensure a normal life. “[That] is not put on a pedestal anymore,” McCabe said. Ortaz added, “My father’s boss has kids with someone and they are not married, but their relationship is doing very well.”

It seems like people are breaking from the traditional marriage as an institution for raising kids, but they are still able to live satisfactory lives.

Only one demographic group appears to be going against this trend: college graduates. Alex Bivona, FCLC ’14, said, “Maybe college graduates come from more traditional families where marriage comes before having children.” Faith Brancale, FCLC ’15, added, “Some people meet and begin dating in college but have no time to think about kids.” As a result, for many in an academic or professional setting, marrying one’s significant other can be a way to take a relationship to the next step without adding the responsibilities of having a child.

This traditional background and the trade-off between having a child and being able to pursue a professional career could very well explain the opposite trend among college graduates. There is however a broader concern linked to marriage losing ground among the less educated: marriage could very well become a new factor of social divide.