Marriage in an age of cohabitation : how and when people tie the knot in the twenty-first century / Maureen Baker & Vivienne Elizabeth.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Baker, Maureen, author.

Elizabeth, Vivienne, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Marriage.

Unmarried couples.

Domestic relations.

Local Subjects:

Domestic relations.

Marriage.

Unmarried couples.

Physical Description:

iv, 209 pages ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

Don Mills, Ontario : Oxford University Press, [2014]

Summary:

Over the past several decades, the number of people choosing to "live together" outside of marriage has risen dramatically. As well, the very definition of marriage itself has shifted, with legal recognition of same-sex relationships now being granted in many jurisdictions, and with same-sex partners living visibly and publicly together even where legal recognition hasn't yet been achieved. So what does all this mean for the age-oldinstitution of marriage? Does widespread cohabitation weaken the social institution of marriage, or does it simply indicate a delayed pathway to more conventional legal relationships? And if cohabitation has become a socially acceptable substitute for marriage, why do so many different-sex couples who live together eventually formalize their relationships, and why do same-sex couples place such emphasis on winning the same legal recognition for same-sex marriages as for those between different-sex partners? In this intriguing new book, sociologists Maureen Baker and Vivienne Elizabeth draw on a wealth of research to address these and many other questions. The result is a fascinating look at the ever-changing yet surprisingly resilient institution of marriage in the brave new world of the twenty-first century. Book jacket.

Contents:

Chapter 1: The Rise of Do-it-Yourself (DiY) "Marriage" 1

Introduction 1

The Rise of Cohabitation or Consensual Unions 4

Does Cohabitation Represent a Lower Level of Relationship Commitment? 13

The Changing Social context of intimate Relationships 16

Different-Sex Couples Delay Marriage but Not Sexual Activity i6 Voluntary Child-Bearing 18

Barriers to Legal Marriage for Different-Sex Couples 19

Legal Regulations: Making Different-Sex Cohabitation More Like Marriage 21

The Legalization of Same-Sex Relationships 24

The Rise of Independent Celebrants and the Wedding Industry 27

Overview of Our Empirical Research 29

Conceptual Framework 30

The Interviews 32

Conclusions: Is Marriage Still a Cultural Ideal? 36

Chapter 2: Negotiating Transitions: From Dating to Cohabitation to "Marriage" 38

Introduction 38

Progressing Couple Relationships from Dating to Cohabitation 39

Motives to Formalize Relationships 45

Shifting to Public Commitment and Celebrating Successful Relationships 46

Providing a Suitable Environment for Child-Rearing 50

Pragmatic and Legal Reasons to Marry 54

Expectations and Pressures to Marry 58

Deciding to Formalize 62

Marriage Proposals 62

Mutual Decisions 66

Negotiated Decisions to Marry 68

Opposing Heterosexual Marriage by Choosing Civil Union 72

Same-Sex Civil Union as Second-Class Marriage 75

Conclusions 78

Chapter 3: "Proper" Weddings and the Wedding Industry 81

Introduction 81

Changing Views of Marriage 82

Popular Culture and Wedding imagery 87

The Retention of Wedding Traditions 92

Weddings as Public Displays 99

Conclusions 108

Chapter 4: Personalized Weddings 110

Introduction 110

Celebrants and Personalized Weddings 113

Details of Wedding Personalization 118

Unusual Rings Given in Unusual Places 120

Wearing Non-Traditional Outfits 123

Expressions of Love in the Ceremony 127

Resisting Patriarchal or inequitable Vows 129

Including Children in the Ceremony 133

Wedding Stress 136

Conclusions 145

Chapter 5: Does Formalization Really Make a Difference? 147

Introduction 147

Formalization Makes a Notable Difference to the Couple 148

Formalization and Changes to Identity 155

Formalization Made Minor Differences to Some Couples but Notable Difference to Others 159

Marriage/Civil Union Is No Different than Cohabitatior. 163

Conclusions 168

Chapter 6: Conclusions 170

Introduction 170

Has Marriage Become "De-Traditionalized"? 172

What are the prevalent Pathways from Cohabitation to "Marriage"? 177

Why Have Weddings Become So Personalized and Commercial? 180

Is Civil Union the Same as Marriage? 181

Are Same-Sex and Different-Sex Formalization the Same? 183

Does Formalization Make a Difference? 184

Conclusions 185

Methodological Appendix 189

Study Design 189

Interview Schedule for Celebrants 194

Main Questions 194

Interview Schedule for Participants in Couple Relationships 195

Main Questions 195.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 197-205) and index.

ISBN:

9780199002634

0199002630

OCLC:

861064109