Jamie and Jools know the real value of marriage
THIS is a tale of two couples. First, there’s Jamie Oliver and wife Jools, who marked their 18th wedding anniversary this week by posting loving messages online.
Some found them slightly toe curling. Other romantics like me thought they were rather charming.
They described each other as ‘soul mates’, and Jools ended by saying: ‘You would do anything for us and most of all you make me feel safe.’ They’re the personification of a happy marriage, supportive, loving and raising five children together.
Compare the Olivers with cohabiting academics Rebecca Steinfeld and Charles Keidan, who this week won a long battle at the Supreme Court to give heterosexual couples the right to civil partnerships (which became legal for gay couples in 2004).
Why do they want this right when they could simply get married in a register office using words of their choice? Because they view marriage as a patriarchal tradition that demeans women. Of course they do!
The Keidsteins (they use a ‘fused family name’) describe marriage as ‘a union in which women were exploited for their domestic and sexual services’ for centuries. Their barrister told the court her clients had ‘deeprooted and genuine ideological objections to marriage’ because it was ‘ historically heteronormative and patriarchal’. So there.
But who’s really living in the dark ages here? The modern world’s full of married couples where women work — or are the main breadwinner — and would be appalled to be described as subjugated.
Of course, all marriages are not happy. Mine wasn’t, but I have never given up hope of being a bride again. I still refer to my ex as my ‘first husband’. Despite going through a divorce, I believe passionately in marriage, as do most of my friends.
a poll earlier this year revealed that an astonishing 78 per cent of teenagers want to get married. However much the left sneers at marriage, the evidence proves it’s still the most stable way to raise children. One in three cohabiting couples split before their child’s fifth birthday, compared to one in ten married couples.
look, I’m sure the Keidsteins are a loving couple who want to do their best for their two children, and it’s true that civil partnerships could offer extra legal protections for millions of cohabiting couples.
But do they to sanctimoniously traduce marriage in the process? Whatever you think of Jamie and Jools, I know which of these two couples I think’s got it right.