Cohabitation

Question 1

Number of cohabiting couples

Answer 1

•2.9 Million cohabiting heterosexual couples in Britain
•Estimated 69,000 same-sex cohabiting couples
•About 1/5 of all those cohabiting are “serial cohabitants”

Question 2

Reasons for the increase in cohabitation

Answer 2

•Decline in stigma attached to sex outside of marriage
-> In 1989, 44% agreed that “premarital sex is not wrong” unlike 65% in 2012
•Younger people are more likely to accept cohabitation
•Women are free to opt for cohabitation since they may have no desire or need to marry

Question 3

The Relationship between Cohabitation and Marriage

Answer 3

Chester argues that for most people, cohabitation is part of the process to become married
Coast (2006): 75% of cohabiting couples are expecting to move in with eachother

Bejin (1985): cohabitation between young people represent a conscious attempt to create a more equal relationship than the patriarchal nuclear family
Shelton & John (1993): women who cohabit do less house work than their married counterparts