--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In the consumer culture of marriage…" description: "\"In the consumer culture of marriage, commitments last as long as the other person is meeting our needs. We still believe in commitment, because we know..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b79/william-j-doherty-48589_baby_in-the-consumer-culture-of-marriage-comm_3105644.jpg" --- # In the consumer culture of marriage, commitments last as… ![“In the consumer culture of marriage, commitments last as long as the other person is meeting our needs. We still believe in commitment, because we know that committed relationships are good for us, but powerful voices coming from inside and outside tell us that we are suckers if we settle for less…” quote by William J Doherty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b79/william-j-doherty-48589_baby_in-the-consumer-culture-of-marriage-comm_3105644.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b79/william-j-doherty-48589_baby_in-the-consumer-culture-of-marriage-comm_3105644.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b79/william-j-doherty-48589_baby_in-the-consumer-culture-of-marriage-comm_3105644.jpg) > “In the consumer culture of marriage, commitments last as long as the other person is meeting our needs. We still believe in commitment, because we know that committed relationships are good for us, but powerful voices coming from inside and outside tell us that we are suckers if we settle for less than we think we need and deserve in our marriage. Most baby boomers and their offspring carry in our heads the internalized voice of the consumer culture-to encourage us to stop working so hard or to get out of a marriage that is not meeting our current emotional needs.” [William J Doherty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-doherty/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Commitments are often judged by how well they satisfy personal needs, influenced by consumerist ideas that equate staying in a relationship with being a "sucker". **In simple terms:** People view marriage through a consumer lens, feeling pressure to leave if needs aren't met. Key Takeaway Evaluate relationship value beyond immediate gratification. Themes relationships consumer culture commitment self-worth Mood conflicted reflective Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - marriage counseling - personal reflection - therapy sessions - friend conversations - self-help workshops Key Concepts psychology social conditioning expectations Questions to Reflect On - What needs are truly essential? - How does consumerism shape your view of love? A Different Perspective Consumer mindset may overlook long‑term growth and compromise. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Baby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baby/) [Baby boom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baby-boom/) [Baby boomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baby-boomer/) [Boomers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boomers/) [Commitment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commitment/) [Committed relationship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/committed-relationship/) [Consumer culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consumer-culture/) [Consumers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consumers/) [Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [Emotional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotional/) [Emotional needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotional-needs/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Meetings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meetings/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Voice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voice/) [Working so hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/working-so-hard/) ## Related quotes > [Total commitment. You know, the idea of discovering something that, for all intents and purposes, goes against your abilities, and yet still deciding to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/total-commitment-you-know-the-idea-of-discovering-something-that-for/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [“You have to admit, it's kind of impressive… Total commitment. You know, the idea of discovering something that, for all intents and purposes, goes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/you-have-to-admit-it-s-kind-of-impressive-total-commitment-you-know/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [“In science, it is not speed that is the most important. It is the dedication, the commitment, the interest and the will to know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-wigner/in-science-it-is-not-speed-that-is-the-most-important-it-is-the/) [Eugene Wigner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-wigner/) > [The big thing for actors is the level of commitment. So, if you know something's already happened, there's not a whole lot of whys…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shia-labeouf/the-big-thing-for-actors-is-the-level-of-commitment-so-if-you-know/) [Shia LaBeouf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shia-labeouf/) > [“The nature of commitment: you can never know in advance whether you will achieve your goals; all you can do is keep moving forward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russ-harris/the-nature-of-commitment-you-can-never-know-in-advance-whether-you/) [Russ Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russ-harris/) > [Be committed to the relationship you have with yourself. We get so committed to other relationships, but often sort of toss ourselves away. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-hay/be-committed-to-the-relationship-you-have-with-yourself-we-get-so/) [Louise Hay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-hay/) > [“Any expert will tell you that if you want emotionally committed relationships then people must be allowed to be true to who they are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-slap/any-expert-will-tell-you-that-if-you-want-emotionally-committed/) [Stan Slap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-slap/) > [“A spiritual life grows as love finds its centre beyond ourselves. Faithful and committed relationships offer a door into the mystery of spiritual life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-spiritual-life-grows-as-love-finds-its-centre-beyond-ourselves/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I like committed, one-on-one relationships. That's just who I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-revel-horwood/i-like-committed-one-on-one-relationships-that-s-just-who-i-am/) [Craig Revel Horwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-revel-horwood/) > [Today, we turn to one person to provide what an entire village once did: a sense of grounding, meaning, and continuity. At the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-perel/today-we-turn-to-one-person-to-provide-what-an-entire-village-once/) [Esther Perel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-perel/) > [Breaking up is not the best solution when there is a simple problem that can be fixed. A lot of couples break up for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaygee/breaking-up-is-not-the-best-solution-when-there-is-a-simple-problem/) [KayGee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaygee/) > [“Although much of the work we do in committed relationships we do with our partners, sometimes it’s necessary to start with ourselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/although-much-of-the-work-we-do-in-committed-relationships-we-do-with/) [Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/) > [I believe since we've all been given free will, let's use our will to let others be free. Gay and lesbian couples, they believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-nique-imes-jackson/i-believe-since-we-ve-all-been-given-free-will-let-s-use-our-will-to/) [Mo'Nique Imes-Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-nique-imes-jackson/) > [“He made a commitment, Eena.” “And you believe this commitment ,” she spoke the word detestably, “is more important than true love?” “Yes.” “No,”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/he-made-a-commitment-eena-and-you-believe-this-commitment-she-spoke/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [Do I believe in coupling? Do I believe in commitment? Do I believe in co-parenting, raising children together, having a family, and growing old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-wasser/do-i-believe-in-coupling-do-i-believe-in-commitment-do-i-believe-in/) [Laura Wasser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-wasser/) ## More by William J Doherty > [John Gottman is our leading explorer of the inner world of relationships. In The Relationship Cure, he has found gold once again. This book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-doherty/john-gottman-is-our-leading-explorer-of-the-inner-world-of/) [William J Doherty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-doherty/) > [Dr Sue Johnson is the most original contributor to couples therapy to come along in the last thirty years. This book will touch your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-doherty/dr-sue-johnson-is-the-most-original-contributor-to-couples-therapy-to/) [William J Doherty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-doherty/) > [Marriage is a public good, not just a private relationship. We have a public stake in healthy marriages and two-parent families. Our society suffers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-doherty/marriage-is-a-public-good-not-just-a-private-relationship-we-have-a/) [William J Doherty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-doherty/) > [Most of us are now free to walk away from our marital commitments more easily than from any other contract in our lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-doherty/most-of-us-are-now-free-to-walk-away-from-our-marital-commitments/) [William J Doherty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-doherty/) > [Why would a married couple that lives together every day need to date each other? It's precisely because they live and sleep together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-doherty/why-would-a-married-couple-that-lives-together-every-day-need-to-date/) [William J Doherty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-doherty/) > [If a married couple with children has fifteen minutes of uninterrupted, non-logistical, non-problem-solving talk every day, I would put them in the top 5%…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-doherty/if-a-married-couple-with-children-has-fifteen-minutes-of/) [William J Doherty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-doherty/) > [A family, like a canoe, must be steered or paddled, or it won't take you where you want to go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-doherty/a-family-like-a-canoe-must-be-steered-or-paddled-or-it-won-t-take-you/) [William J Doherty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-doherty/) [Explore all 8 William J Doherty quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-doherty/) ## More Baby quotes > [I would have done well as a gypsy child, I think. A circus baby. I coulda played a great street urchin or ragamuffin. Or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-lyonne/i-would-have-done-well-as-a-gypsy-child-i-think-a-circus-baby-i/) [Natasha Lyonne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-lyonne/) > [“I looked down into my baby’s beautiful green eyes and ached inside. She looked up at me with wide-eyed innocence. I kissed her warm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bella-forrest/i-looked-down-into-my-baby-s-beautiful-green-eyes-and-ached-inside/) [Bella Forrest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bella-forrest/) > [I've retired my sneakers for stilettos, baby!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivica-a-fox/i-ve-retired-my-sneakers-for-stilettos-baby/) [Vivica A. Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivica-a-fox/) > [I didn't expect to be so comfortable handing my child off to a nanny without getting any of her information. As soon as she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-wong/i-didn-t-expect-to-be-so-comfortable-handing-my-child-off-to-a-nanny/) [Ali Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-wong/) > [And I gave you my all, now baby be mine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashanti/and-i-gave-you-my-all-now-baby-be-mine/) [Ashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashanti/) > [Parents who are stressed or disturbed will have more difficulty in meeting their children's needs. Parents who have little support--from friends, relatives, neighbors, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-kamerman/parents-who-are-stressed-or-disturbed-will-have-more-difficulty-in/) Sheila Kamerman > [Shhh.” He put a finger to her lips. “Hear me out. I cannot deny that I would've liked to have made babies with you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-hoyt/shhh-he-put-a-finger-to-her-lips-hear-me-out-i-cannot-deny-that-i/) [Elizabeth Hoyt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-hoyt/) > [I'm so happy baby.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashanti/i-m-so-happy-baby/) [Ashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashanti/) > [Weezy F. Baby. F. is fo' finisha:)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-wayne/weezy-f-baby-f-is-fo-finisha/) [Lil Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-wayne/) > [Baby, I love you. We argue about the stupidest shit then we turn around and laugh about it. I'm obsessed with you and you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay/baby-i-love-you-we-argue-about-the-stupidest-shit-then-we-turn-around/) Lindsay > [My dad's Israeli. He was born in Baghdad to Iraqi Jews. Then, at age two, his parents wanted to move to their homeland and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-yamin/my-dad-s-israeli-he-was-born-in-baghdad-to-iraqi-jews-then-at-age-two/) [Elliott Yamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-yamin/) > [Michael Jackson has a new baby boy; no word yet who the father is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/michael-jackson-has-a-new-baby-boy-no-word-yet-who-the-father-is/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [I always wondered why babies spend so much time sucking their thumbs. Then I tasted baby food.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-orben/i-always-wondered-why-babies-spend-so-much-time-sucking-their-thumbs/) [Robert Orben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-orben/) > [If all fooles had babies, wee should want fuell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/if-all-fooles-had-babies-wee-should-want-fuell/) [George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/) > [My baby girl Bella is growing up so fast I remember when she was soo tiny, it shows how much she has been loved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crystal/my-baby-girl-bella-is-growing-up-so-fast-i-remember-when-she-was-soo/) [Crystal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crystal/) [Browse all 5,822 Baby quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baby/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In the consumer culture of marriage, commitments last as long as the other person is meeting our needs. We still believe in commitment, because we know that committed relationships are good for us, but powerful voices coming from inside and outside tell us that we are suckers if we settle for less than we think we need and deserve in our marriage. Most baby boomers and their offspring carry in our heads the internalized voice of the consumer culture-to encourage us to stop working so hard or to get out of a marriage that is not meeting our current emotional needs.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "William J Doherty" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-doherty/in-the-consumer-culture-of-marriage-commitments-last-as-long-as-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Baby" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-doherty/in-the-consumer-culture-of-marriage-commitments-last-as-long-as-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b79/william-j-doherty-48589_baby_in-the-consumer-culture-of-marriage-comm_3105644.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b79/william-j-doherty-48589_baby_in-the-consumer-culture-of-marriage-comm_3105644.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b79/william-j-doherty-48589_baby_in-the-consumer-culture-of-marriage-comm_3105644.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In the consumer culture of marriage, commitments last as long as the other person is meeting our needs. We…” — William J Doherty", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "William J Doherty", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-doherty/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "In the consumer culture of marriage,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-doherty/in-the-consumer-culture-of-marriage-commitments-last-as-long-as-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-doherty/in-the-consumer-culture-of-marriage-commitments-last-as-long-as-the/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```