Well said, M.Ted.

I understand why some people would find the cultural baggage distasteful, and I personally find the "wedding" nonsense about as big of a waste of time and money as you'll ever find. But I don't find the legal recognition and protection, common law or otherwise, of a de facto relationship oppressive or demeaning in any way.

If this were a where or when in which marriage was forced upon women or conferred a reduced legal status, I would certainly object. As it is, I think it's nice that we have a choice.

Of course, I have it on reliable anecdotal evidence that certain individual marriages are oppressive :)