Geraldo Rivera Causes Controversy: 'What a Woman Brings to a Marriage More Than Anything Else ... Is Her Youth'

Geraldo Rivera Causes Controversy: 'What a Woman Brings to a Marriage More Than Anything Else ... Is Her Youth'

On Monday, Geraldo Rivera, no stranger to controversy, stirred things up again while appearing on the Fox News show "Outnumbered."

In a segment on what 20-somethings really want in a marriage, the talk turned to the concept of "beta marriages," in which the union can be formalized or dissolved after a two-year trial period with no paperwork or hassle, allowing partners to see if they want to continue beyond a short-term commitment.

Rivera, after noting that his current marriage is almost 11 years strong, acknowledged that he has been divorced four times, essentially having had his share of beta marriages himself.

Mentioning his three daughters, he went on to explain that he is against the idea of beta marriages, arguing that while men bring money to a marriage, women bring their youth, and that a woman's youth is precious.

"I know this may provoke a Stephen Smith-like reaction, but I think essentially — although there's an increase in two-income marriages — generally speaking, the man is the breadwinner, more often than not, although now increasingly women do work. But what I think a woman brings to a marriage more than anything else, to a relationship, is her youth. Her youth is a fragile and diminishing resource. So if a woman were to invest two years in one of these marriages, and then to be rejected by the man, I think that she has given up a valuable asset that is unequal — in other words, the man gets everything and the woman gets nothing from this arrangement."

One of the four female hosts that he was telling this to was particularly vocal with her response: "I'm like, 'Whaaat?'"

On Twitter some users called it "extremely sexist and weird," though others showed support. Rivera took to Twitter Tuesday morning, stating, "I stand by that statement" and "Age weighs unequally on the sexes. Time is money ladies, a precious asset."

What do you think about Rivera's comments? In the context of beta marriages, does he have a valid point, or are his views simply dated and inappropriate whatever the context may be? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.