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Answerman - Why Do Girls In Anime Say, "Now I Can't Get Married?"

Which gets funny when you look at all the underage pregnancies in some of those same states.

You and I live in the United States, a country whose culture, at least in the present day, does not place much importance in female purity or innocence.

Ever since the Sexual Revolution, modern American culture doesn't value virginity.

Don't forget the relatively higher rates of STIs, as well.

Different parts of the US have vastly different cultural values (hence me, perhaps, being the ignorant one). I live in Kansas. I have many friends who remained virgins until marriage (even some men!), or plan(ned) to. My parents didn't give a crap, but my grandparents sure as hell lectured me regularly on how I should save myself for my wedding night. And where I live we're actually fortunate enough to have real, balanced sexual education. There are many places in the US that still refuse to teach anything but abstinence, if they ever talk about sex at all. Not to mention purity rings and purity balls... which you can read about if you ever feel like losing your lunch.

leafy sea dragon wrote:

If it's dated though, it won't be funny anymore, and what's the point of a joke if it isn't funny?

For parody purposes. Why do you think comedies like Family Guy which relies on references and schticks to be made fun of are still enjoyed by the millions?

Sounds like your school was situated in a poor neighborhood. High school pregnancies are usually linked with poverty and strife where most of the inhabitants make poor life choices and have very little to aspire to. This type of behavior seems tolerated, even encouraged, in Hispanic and African American communities. Similar to 3rd world societies in Africa and Asia.

You and I live in the United States, a country whose culture, at least in the present day, does not place much importance in female purity or innocence.

Ever since the Sexual Revolution, modern American culture doesn't value virginity.

Different parts of the US have vastly different cultural values (hence me, perhaps, being the ignorant one).

Different parts of the US have vastly different cultural values (hence me, perhaps, being the ignorant one). I live in Kansas. I have many friends who remained virgins until marriage (even some men!), or plan(ned) to. My parents didn't give a crap, but my grandparents sure as hell lectured me regularly on how I should save myself for my wedding night. And where I live we're actually fortunate enough to have real, balanced sexual education. There are many places in the US that still refuse to teach anything but abstinence, if they ever talk about sex at all. Not to mention purity rings and purity balls... which you can read about if you ever feel like losing your lunch.

I don't think this is true for America on the whole, and I'd even argue that it's not true in America on average. Girls are still shamed (or worse, threatened with violence) for being perceived as promiscuous. You don't have to look very far on social media to see this.

I always saw it as a responsibility thing. Rushing into sex in high school and then being stuck with the kid before you graduate isn't really something I find desirable in a partner, much like smoking, drinking, or drugs. It shows a lack of responsibility and poor decision-making. Especially when the couple always ends up breaking up post high school. Maybe I'm old fashion in valuing that in the modern setting, but I had a high school sweetheart and we never rushed into something that ruined our entire lives. I always saw it no different than not wanting to date a smoker or something. Nothing wrong with people having different standards.

-Stuart Smith

I usually get more of a reaction with the other side of the joke "you will take responsibility for this, won't you?" as it is comparatively less self deprecating and shows the girl has some wit about her character.

I think that stems, not from a purity standpoint, but from the old notion that only one's husband should be allowed to see them naked. Having someone who is not their husband see them naked would be seen as disgraceful among other things.

Justin Sevakis, in the column, wrote:

Miai still happen in Japan, though they're increasingly rare and often the exclusive domain of very traditional families.

Just out of curiosity, exactly what are the characteristics of these Very Traditional Families? (e.g., I would imagine that that such families come exclusively from rural areas. Am I mistaken? )

Nyren wrote:

I think that stems, not from a purity standpoint, but from the old notion that only one's husband should be allowed to see them naked. Having someone who is not their husband see them naked would be seen as disgraceful among other things.

I assume there's also the same kind of exaggerated innocence that leads to girls thinking that they will get pregnant because they've been kissed etc.

nobahn wrote:

Justin Sevakis, in the column, wrote: Miai still happen in Japan, though they're increasingly rare and often the exclusive domain of very traditional families. Just out of curiosity, exactly what are the characteristics of these Very Traditional Families? (e.g., I would imagine that that such families come exclusively from rural areas. Am I mistaken? )

Within anime at least, it is usually the preserve of large family-owned conglomerates (think the Sakuraba in Ai Yori Aoshi, a show which also happens to invoke the "now I can't get married" trope at least twice, for the same character).
In real life, Adult Adoption definitely still happens and it is not dissimilar in the way it is used within large companies. I think the example used on QI was Suzuki, the current head of that company being the fourth generation to be adopted into the role.