Keep in mind:

1
Marriage

• Keep in mind
• The importance of ethnicity and gender in U.S.
• The relevance of different understandings of the
  institution of marriage in other parts in the
  World

2
Marriage in Europe

• Cohabitation is an emerging social norm

- Regional differences within Europe (children
born outside marriage vary from 9 to 62). -
Where is the trend more pronounced? Northern Sou
thern Eastern Catholic versus non-catholic
3
Marriage in Europe

• Do you think the U.S. government or U.S. states
  should grant cohabitors access to some or all of
  the rights and benefits of marriage? Why or why
  not?
• - Commitment to marriage, commitment to
  parenthood or both?

4
Marriage in Java

• Java is part of Indonesia (a developing country).
• Important to take into account gender
  differences, urban-rural divide and marriage
  timing (not cohabitation).

5
Marriage in Java

• - Rural urban lower class urban middle class.
• Asian cultures with complex and contradictory
  practices.
• Is it a Duh? (page 446)
• In Java people marry at very young ages. But is
  it everybody or just a specific group?

• Effects of urbanization and Westernization have
  produced more _______ ________ .(p.448)

6
Cohabitation in U.S.
- Huge increase in cohabitation (in the last two
decades).
- Trend toward more break-ups, fewer marriages.

• Most marriages start with cohabitation
  experience.
• Most cohabitations are _________ (duration).
• Many cohabitors have children in the household.
• Almost ____ of non-marital births are to
  cohabitors.

7
Cohabitation in U.S.

• Who cohabits? ________________
• - With what characteristics?

• ____________
• ____________
• ____________

- Ethnic differences?
8
Why the Increase in Cohabitation?
Cultural Explanations - rising individualism
and secularism (religious adherence and
involvement)
Mutually Reinforcing

• Economic Explanations
• - womens changing role in the labor market

Historical Explanations - Sexual Revolution
removed stigma of premarital sex
Others?
9
Effects of Cohabitation?
- Is it a good thing? Cohabitors think it is, but
- Lower marital quality and higher risk of
divorce.

• Why?
• Selection explanation
• Experimental explanation

10
Views on Cohabitation
Pathway to marriage versus substitute for marriage
- Of all cohabitors, _____ have plans to marry.

• - What changes with pregnancy?
• - How does it impact kids?