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Marriage and Cohabitation: Qualitative Differences in Partnership Arrangements

Year: 2002

Type: article

Abstract: The article investigates the differences between marriage and non-marital cohabitation.The main perspective stems from the theory of the social exchange.The author concentrates on the narrow question of financial transfers between partners and presents the hypothesis that cohabitation should represent a lesser bond union because it does not protect investments into partnerships, and it should therefore be more egalitarian.However, this hypothesis is not confirmed by the data.Even though cohabitation is indeed a departure from the traditional family pattern, it is not a departure in the direction of greater egalitarianism but rather in the direction of a female breadwinner.The social exchange theory would predict that the shift towards the female breadwinner should be compensated by the greater participation of men in the household chores.This expectation is confirmed by the data.

Source: Czech Sociological Review

DOI: 10.13060/00380288.2002.38.6.05

Author: Dana Hamplová

Institutions: Czech Academy of Sciences, Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Sociology

Language: English

Topic: Family Dynamics and Relationships

Subfield: Demography

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Gender equality, Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: diamond

OpenAlex ID: W2153500315