You may never be married again because you become too fat, too old, too picky, etc. It is not second class citizenship. They wanted somebody that looked after them, worried about their survival. Many had been slaves all their lives and they knew how to handle that, but this being free was stressful, unfamiliar and anxiety ridden and if the option had been available, many would have stayed slaves. When you get good at it, then you will like it.
All marriages are happy.
It is right after the ceremony that the problems start. A happy single life is a learned process under your complete control.