I agree that it's a "relatively recent" human phenomenon. But it is (or was) a step in human evolution As a game changer (agricultural revolution). It has progressed people to this point and is the healthiest thing for a society. It's the reason we don't live in caves anymore, and why women are not treated like cattle and why men aren't constantly slaughtered.
As a point, name me one society where polyamory is the norm that has achieved spaceflight, or a huge industrialized boom. The only place I can think of are places in the Middle East, and that is because of natural reasourves reserves.
Marriage protects both men and women. The general rule of thumb is that a women gives up her youth a fertility to one guy and bears his children and raise them together and that guy promises to not leave her (security) when she becomes older and when he acquires more resources. In return, they guy knows that the children are his. This used to be the deal before the state got involved, and it was a fine (not great deal) for both parties involved. And it was the best deal avalible for men who are not the top 20% of men, and for women who are older.
To break apart a marriage, something that both parties entered into mutually (there are no forced marriages in America as far as I know now) just because "feels" is silly and irresponsible. And people say "oh I'd rather be alone than be married to someone I hate". Dude, u chose that person, deal with it. This isn't like buying a car and saying you don't like it anymore. If you don't wanna get married, don't.
And it's easy to say this "oh I want divorce as an option" as a young good looking 20-30 something year old, but what happenes when you are 50? That's why we have "crazy cat ladies" and "confirmed bachelors" although men tend to take being single better than women do in older age.
And the best part is, because the marriage system is so bad and men are opting out, you hear so many women go "where have all the good men gone?". Well, monkey see, monkey don't do. Men see other men being dragged trough the family court system and don't sign up for the same treatment.
Monogamous marriage is a relatively recent thing in human history. Poly societies have existed for thousands of years before marriage came along, and still do. To say we "evolved" into monogamy is not only culturally insensitive (the assumption that these existing societies are socially "primitive" and we're so great), but also biologically incorrect. Evolutionary biology is rife with examples: "killer sperm," men achieving multiple orgasms in the presence of other men around their partner, and other human features that are specifically geared to address continuous sexual competition.
Seeking to "punish" a partner for initiating divorce is a slippery slope (what if they cheated because you were an a-hole to them? etc). If there is a loophole for some form of "fault" in the contract, divorce lawyers can spin basically any story they want to leave a partner destitute.
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