Even as the fight for marriage equality continues on the state and federal fronts, some four out of 10 Americans recently surveyed by the Pew Research Center said that the tradition is becoming obsolete.

Pew found that 39 percent of respondents said that marriage was becoming or is already obsolete. Time Magazine asked a similar question in 1978 and only 28 percent held the same view.

Pew's report highlights a declining trend in marriages since 1960. According to Pew, in 2008 only 53 percent of “adults” were married. In 1960, that number was 72 percent.

The report also found that only 43 percent of those surveyed said more gay couples raising children was good for society.