Cohabitation

Question 1

Define cohabitation

Answer 1

involves unmarried couples in a sexual RS living together

Question 2

correlation between no. of marriages and no. of cohabitating couples

Answer 2

no. of marriages has been falling and continues to

no. of cohabiting couples increasing and continue to and is the fastest growing family type

Question 3

No. of cohabitating couple double?

Answer 3

No. of cohabiting couples was expected to double again in 2021 and it did

Question 4

Reasons for the increase in cohabitation

Answer 4

-Decline in stigma attached to sex outside marriage
-Secularisation
-Modern, young people accepting
-Increased career opportunities for women

Question 5

Secularisation

Answer 5

according to 2021 Census, young people with no religion were more likely to cohabit than those with a religion

Question 6

Modern, young people accepting
Statistics

Answer 6

modern idea
-ideal to young people

88% of 18-24 year olds thought
‘it is alright for a couple to live together, without intending to get married’

BUT
only 40% of those over 65 agreed

(Social Trends 34)

Question 7

Decline in stigma attached to sex outside marriage

Answer 7

Increased cohabitation rates reflect decline in stigma attached to sex outside marriage

in 1989, only 44% of people agreed that
‘premarital sex is not wrong at all’

BUT

by 2000
62% took this view

(British Social Attitudes)

Question 8

Increased career opportunities for women

Answer 8

Increased career opportunities for women also mean that they have less need for the financial security of marriage and are freer to opt for cohabitation

Question 9

Relationship between cohabitation and marriage

Answer 9

Although cohabitation is increasing as marriage decreases
-the rs between the 2 is not clear-cut

Question 10

Cohabitation is increasing as marriage decreases yet the rs between the 2 is not clear-cut, why?

Answer 10

For some couples, cohabitation is just a step on the way to getting married for others it is a permanent alternative to marriage

Question 11

Who argues cohabitation is just part of the process of getting married ?

Answer 11

Robert Chester (1985)

Question 12

Robert Chester (1985)

Answer 12

argues that for most people, cohabitating is part of a process of getting married,

Question 13

Supporting evidence for Robert Chester (1985)

Answer 13

Ernestina Coast (2006), 75% of cohabiting couples say they expect to marry each other

Question 14

What do many people view cohabitation as ?

Answer 14

a ‘trial marriage’ and intend to marry if it goes well
-most CC tend to marry if they have children

• in some cases C is temporary phases before marriage or one or both are awaiting a divorce

Question 15

Who believes cohabitation is a permanent alternative to narriage?

Answer 15

André Bejin (1985)

Question 16

André Bejin (1985)

Answer 16

-argues that cohabitation amongst some young people represents a conscious attempt to create a more personally negotiated and equal relationship than conventional patriarchal marriage

Question 17

Supporting evidence for André Bejin (1985)

Answer 17

Shelton and John (1993) found that women who cohabit do less housework than their married counterparts

Question 18

Cohabitation means different things to every couple, who argues this?

Answer 18

Eleanor Macklm (1980)

Question 19

Eleanor Macklm (1980)

Answer 19

-argues that the term covers a diverse range of partnerships
-and that the relationship between marriage and cohabitation is a complex and variable one