I just wrote this in response to another post. I thought some younger men might appreciate the insights.

Whenever a woman gives a man the ultimatum to propose, here is what she is really saying:

"Sign this legal contract or else....

Sure, this horrifically unfair contract will be enforced by armies of large men with guns who will take my side without asking questions. But I demand it. Now. The terms and conditions you ask? Hell, who knows. But they will change to suit whatever political wind is blowing at the moment, and you will only find out the final terms in divorce court. The judge in that court has some discretion and if that judge is a feminist (which many family court judges are) you will be completely subject to feminist doctrine. But don't worry. I get that AWALT - but not me. I am not like those other women. I would never break down in tears and accuse you of abuse to gain sole custody, thereby removing any chance of having to pay YOU child support. No, not me.

Sign this contract or else...

The status of "married" and the legal threat behind it is more important to me than love, intimacy, trust or loyalty right now. It is more important to me than the long-term welfare of our child. Sure, I may change my mind about all of this one day; So I want this backup plan to latch onto a somewhat reliable source of income for me and MY baby. You are simply a tool to be used to get me the security I want/need. What I have now does not seem like enough.

Sign it, or else.....

If things do not work out, or I simply change my mind, I will need the victimhood that comes along with being a divorced single mom - because tens of millions of beta males and white knights like you love the shit out of a poor helpless single mom. Especially wealthy older men who are looking for a young 28 year old fucktoy - I am the HB8 he always wanted, but she/they were always too busy riding the CC to notice his amazing qualities. I will profess that I am tired of games, and ready to "settle down" with him. What man does not crave those exact words. Millions of those guys are out there and all I need to do is snag one of them. But do not worry - we will be together forever.

Sign this contract, or else I will go and fuck someone who WILL sign it.

But don't worry baby. I love you. Let's go have sex..."

Marriage is nothing more than this, and this is the ultimatum she is giving you. Never forget that. And never let yourself be tricked into thinking that this perspective is cynical, angry, toxic, patriarchal, or biased - it is simply reading subtext. Nothing more, and nothing less.

Edit - Some of you are misunderstanding the main message (I also think that marriage is a bad idea for many reasons, but), my main point is the subtext of this particular ultimatum. We can debate the merits of marriage all day, but is a woman puts the screws to you in this way, this is what she is saying. Read it again and let it sink in. "Search your feelings....you know this to be true."