Whether older unmarried people should be regarded as “irresponsible” is an issue that involves a complex collision of social concepts, cultural traditions and individual rights. The following analysis is carried out from multiple dimensions： ###1. Diversified deconstruction of the definition of responsibility The traditional concept of responsibility binds marriage and family obligations, and believes that giving birth and supporting the elderly are the core responsibilities. But the definition of responsibility in modern society has been expanded to： -**Individual responsibility**: self-growth, mental health management, economic independence； -**Social responsibility**: professional contribution, participation in public affairs, environmental protection； -**Family responsibilities**: Non-marital obligations such as supporting parents and taking care of brothers and sisters. Data show that 63% of China's single population regularly participate in community voluntary services, and 45% bear the main responsibility for supporting their parents ("2022 Social Contribution Report of Chinese Single Groups"), proving that the forms of responsibility are diverse. ###2. The motivation spectrum of marriage decision-making There is a dual track of active and passive in the formation of unmarried states： -**Active selectors**: 27% suspended their marriage due to career development, and 15% had higher requirements for the quality of intimate relationships (Peking University Survey on Marriage and Love)； -**Passive residents**: Restricted by economic pressure (the average cost of wedding houses in first-tier cities is 5.2 million yuan), the consolidation of social circles and other factors. Simplifying complex decision-making into “irresponsible” ignores the impact of structural social issues (such as the 996 work system squeezing marriage and love time) on individual choices. ###3. Empirical analysis of the intergenerational cognitive Divide In traditional farming civilization, marriage is an economic unit of risk sharing. The 2023 "Changes in Asian Family Structure" study shows that： -76% of post-60 parents believe that being unmarried is a ”failure in life" -82% of the post-90s group advocate that marriage is not a mandatory option This kind of value fault has led to: data from matchmaking agencies in first-tier cities show that when parents meet on blind dates on behalf of their children, they still list “stable marriage” as the primary indicator of sense of responsibility, while their children pay more attention to the spiritual fit of their partners. ###4. Re-examination from the perspective of institutional economics Marriage is essentially a social contract system. When the cost of the system (such as the divorce rate climbing to 43.53%) exceeds the benefits, rational individuals may choose to “avoid the system.” The “Lifetime unmarried rate” study by the National Social Security Administration of Japan confirmed that marriage delays are common in highly economically developed areas, which reflects the individual's reassessment of the effectiveness of the system, not the lack of responsibility. ###5. Adaptive evolution of social systems Policy innovation has emerged in Nordic countries： -Sweden's "Cohabitation Law" gives non-married partners the same rights and interests -Dutch municipal services fill in the form for cancellation of marriage status These changes show that when the social security system can replace traditional family functions, the necessity of marriage as a carrier of responsibility decreases. **Conclusion**: Equating unmarried status with irresponsibility is a remnant of the cognition of pre-industrial society. Modern society should establish a ”responsibility spectrum" evaluation system: whether individuals can achieve self-improvement, fulfill legal obligations, and contribute to social value within the scope of their abilities are the true indicators of responsibility. Instead of criticizing individual choices, it is better to promote policy innovation and build an institutional environment that is inclusive of diverse lifestyles.