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Chapter 8: Coupling: From Singlehood to Marriage
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Being Single Being Single: a popular trend
Explanations for the increasing number of singles Individualistic nature of American society self fulfillment educational attainment fulfillment of career goals
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Being Single Young adults are delaying marriage
Average age of marriage for men: 26.7 Average age of marriage for women: 25.1
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Figure 8.1: Average Age of Marriage for Men and Women, 1890-2008
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Categories of Singles Sociologist Peter Stein’s typology of singlehood
Voluntary temporary singles never married but not opposed to marriage Voluntary permanent singles intentionally remaining single Involuntary temporary singles want to marry and actively seek a mate Involuntary permanent singles wanted to marry but did not find a mate
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Categories of Singles Never-Married Singles May be gay or straight
May cohabit or live alone May be young or old
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Figure 8.2 Singlehood and Marriage by Race and Ethnicity
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Increasing Numbers of Singles
Explanations for increasing numbers Being single is more socially acceptable Society more accepting of premarital/non-marital sexual behavior Financial support from parents or caregivers High satisfaction with friendship, health, economic situation
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Figure 8.3: Increase in Same-Sex Couples, 2000-2005
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Gender Differences in Singlehood
Never Married Men experience poorer health, higher rates of suicide Women better organized, manage lives better Young unmarried men and women well educated with high status careers and jobs Never-married women in later life more economically disadvantaged than older, married women
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Figure 8.4 Marital Status of the Population by Sex and Race
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Urban Tribes Urban tribes are mixed-gender circles of friends
Primary social support system for singles begin as group of friends over time assume certain roles share rituals feel mutual obligations to support and care for each other do not feel need to rush into marriage
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Gay and Lesbian Never-Marrieds
45% – 80% of lesbians in a steady or long-term cohabiting relationship 40% - 60% of gay men in a steady or long-term committed relationship
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Divorced Singles Different divorce rates and trends vary by age groups
Most divorced people will experience life as a single person for at least some period of time following the end of the marriage
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The Widowed More women than men are widowed
Men are more likely to remarry than women Retirement benefits and social security allow older adults to live independently
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The Act of Marriage In today’s culture people marry because they are “in love” Other reasons for marrying: need for companionship desire to have children desire to be happy desire for financial security convenience dependence on the other fear of contracting HIV/AIDS
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Figure 8.5: Importance of Legal Marriage
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Social Dimensions of Marriage
According to Whitehead(2004), marriage: Organizes kinship Establishes family identities Regulates sexual behavior Attaches fathers to their offspring Supports childrearing Channels economic resources Mutual caregiving between generations
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Social Dimensions of Marriage
Don Browning’s Social Dimensions of Marriage Marriage as an Organizer of Natural Desires Marriage as a Social Good Marriage as a Communicative Reality Marriage as Sacrament and Covenant Marriage as a Legal Contract
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Figure 8.6: Reasons People Marry, by Race/Ethnicity, Age, and Religious Beliefs
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Figure 8.7: Sample Covenant Marriage Agreement
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Figure 8.7 (Continued): Sample Covenant Marriage Agreement
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Legal Dimensions of Marriage
Marriage License – required in all states Allows marriage to occur Age: legal age of marriage in U.S. is 18 Medical tests: blood tests to discover potential genetic disorders Kinship: siblings and half siblings cannot marry No Current Spouse: one must be single to marry
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Rights and Privileges of Marriage
The Federal government grants each state the ability to determine the rights, privileges, benefits and responsibilities associated with marriage
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Implied Rights and Privileges
Right to visit spouse in the hospital Right to make medical decisions on behalf of spouse Right to joint custody of children Right to privileged and confidential communication between the husband and wife Right to rear children in a manner they deem appropriate Right to terminate a marriage according to laws of the state
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Implied Rights and Privileges
Specialization – each spouse can do the tasks they do well Instrumental support – each spouse assists the other physically and emotionally Stability – commitment to marriage provides this Financial responsibility – interdependence with each other
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“two can live as cheaply as one”
Benefits of Marriage Economic Benefits Legal Benefits Health Benefits Children’s Benefits Legal benefits Lower federal income tax rates Social Security and Medicare benefits Health insurance benefits that cover spouses Lower home and auto insurance rates Legal protection from domestic violence and abuse State specific inheritance and death benefits Rights associated with Federal Family Medical Leave Act State-specific rights afforded in instances of divorce Economic Benefits “two can live as cheaply as one” Owning one house or renting one apartment Two incomes vs. one income Filing Federal income taxes jointly Automobile insurance is cheaper for married couples Inheritance, One set of dishes is cheaper than two Laundry, cleaning and other housekeeping tasks are as easy for two as for one Health benefits Women who are married report higher levels of overall health Fewer instances of long-term illness, more vitality Married men tend to be healthier, Hypertension increases with marital stress Married couples report fewer risk-taking behaviors Strong marriages are associated with longer life
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The Transition to Marriage
Establishing marital roles The conjugal role is culturally defined set of behaviors for each spouse Establishing marital boundaries Boundaries incorporate friends and family and need to be negotiated Managing the house and the money Determining who takes on which household responsibilities
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The Transition to Marriage continued
Fostering a healthy emotional climate The expectation that emotional and physical needs will be met by the spouse
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Figure 8.8: A Newly Formed Subsystem
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Blending Culture and Religion
Heterogamous relationships – partners with dissimilar backgrounds on one or more dimensions Race Ethnicity Religion Socioeconomic status Political ideology
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Interracial Marriage Factors affecting those who intermarry
Opportunities for social contacts Educational attainment Immigration status Region of residence Opportunities for social contacts Caucasians are more likely to intermarry because they make up the majority of the population in the U.S. Educational attainment People who share the same level of educational attainment are more likely to intermarry Immigration status Those born outside the U.S. and then immigrate here are less likely to intermarry those of different racial, cultural or ethnic backgrounds Region of Residence Those who live in the West or the Northeast and Northwest are more likely to intermarry than those from the Midwest and South
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Table 8.1: Married Couples in the United States, 2006, by Race
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Interfaith Marriages Ways to strengthen interfaith marriages
Understand traditions of both faiths Do not pressure spouse to convert Be sensitive to cross cultural issues Recognize that one’s religion is a part of who they are Discuss how children will be reared in matters of faith
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Marital Satisfaction Premarital Couple Typologies Vitalized couples
Harmonious couples Traditional couples Conflicted couples
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Marital Couple Types Traditional couple types
Have conventional beliefs about marriage Independent couple types Value closeness but are competitive Separate couple types Less companionship than other types Mixed couple types Combination of marital types
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