What security does marriage give?

Marriage and building a family is really a joint undertaking. Individual freedom has not really been eliminated, it has just been subsumed in the partnership. The individual freedom may be exercised without regard to the partnership, but at the peril of one's marriage. Marriage also brings other benefits: pooled resources, mutual support, the assurance that whatever happens, you will always have someone with you. Having someone that in some ways depends on you also poses a challenge to you to achieve more and excel since your present status is just adequate for you as a single person.