Discuss some of the reasons why individuals are choosing cohabitation as opposed to marriage? What are the pros of living together and what are the cons? What does research show about cohabitation?
Why individuals are choosing cohabitation as opposed to marriage
Full Answer Section
There are both pros and cons to living together. Some of the pros of living together include:
- Financial benefits: As mentioned above, cohabiting couples may be able to save money by sharing expenses.
- Increased intimacy: Living together can help couples to build intimacy and learn more about each other.
- Trial run for marriage: Cohabitation can be seen as a trial run for marriage, allowing couples to test their compatibility before making a lifelong commitment.
- Lack of legal protection: Cohabiting couples do not have the same legal protections as married couples. For example, if one partner dies, the other partner may not be entitled to inherit anything.
- Uncertain future: It is not always clear whether a cohabiting relationship will lead to marriage. This can be a source of uncertainty and anxiety for some couples.
- Disagreements about finances: Disagreements about finances are a common source of conflict for cohabiting couples.
Sample Answer
Cohabitation, or living together without being married, has become increasingly common in recent decades. In the United States, the number of unmarried couples living together has more than doubled since 1990. There are a number of reasons why people choose to cohabit instead of getting married.
Some of the reasons why individuals are choosing cohabitation as opposed to marriage include:
- Financial reasons: Cohabiting couples may be able to save money by sharing expenses, such as rent, utilities, and food.
- Maturity reasons: Some people may feel that they need to live together before they get married to make sure that they are compatible.
- Personal reasons: Some people may simply prefer the freedom and flexibility of cohabitation.