Cohabitation

Question 1

Define cohabitation?

Answer 1

Cohabitation involves an unmarried couple in a sexual relationship living together.

Question 2

Describe the trend in cohabitation? (2)

What are the reasons for incline in cohabitation? (4)

Answer 2

1) - long-term increase
- fastest growing household type / family in the UK

2)
- Secularisation: relgious ideas of marriage have lost their influence.
- Decline in stigma attatched to sex outside marriage.
- Cost of marriage is too high.
- Changing position of women in the economy means there’s less need for financial security from marriage.

Question 3

What are the New Rights perspective on cohabitation?

What does Robert Chester believe about cohabitation?

Answer 3

1) Believe the traditional NF is threatened.
- Claim cohabitation is unstable - they’re less happy compared to married couples. More abuse + more likely to split up.

2) Cohabitation is temporary - most eventually get married, especially is they have children - Cohabitation is a ‘trial marriage’.