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Marrieds and NonMarrieds
AN OVERVIEW OF MARRIEDS,
NONMARRIEDS
AND
FAMILIES
Outline
 Reading discussion
 Marriage
 Nonmarrieds
 Families
 Applying theories
Reading Discussion
 What did you think of the reading?
 Were there any parts you liked? Disliked?
 What facts and figures stood out to you?
 Critically, did you find any issues or gaps in the
reading – areas you wish were discussed
more, less, research that was confusing, facts
that were suspicious?
Marriage: An Overview
 Marriage
•
The book defines marriage as:
•
•
The law defines marriage as:
•
•
In California, a personal relation arising out of a civil contract between
a man and a woman. This definition may vary by state.
Religion defines marriage as:
•
•
a legal union between a man and a woman as recognized by most of
the United States.
a religious rite that may often include precepts of childbearing, sexual
relations, living arrangements and religious beliefs/observances
Sociology defines marriage as:
•
a socially approved sexual and economic relationship between two or
more individuals
How do these definitions effect the recent debates concerning marriage?
Marriage: Laws
 Cohabitation Laws as of 2001 were still on the
books in seven states but are now no longer typically
enforced and are believed to be unconstitutional by
some people
 Antimiscegenation Laws were the prohibition of
interracial marriage, cohabitation or sexual
interaction

From the time of slavery through the 1960s, many states had
antimiscegenation laws
Marriage: Laws
Marriage: Trends
 1960: 80% of 25-35 year
olds are married
 2000: 55%
 2010: 45%
 Why:
•
•
•
Education
Cohabitation
All Things Considered
Marriage: Trends
Marriage: Indicators of Marital Readiness
 Age and maturity
 Timing of marriage
 Motives
 Sexual exclusiveness
 Emotional emancipation from parents
 Education and vocation established
Should any other indicators be added to this list?
Do you think some of these indicators are obsolete?
Marriage: Advantages
 Better physical and emotional health
 More wealth and income
 Positive social status
 More and safer sex
 Life-long continuity of intimate relationships
 Safer circumstances for children
 Longer life expectancy
 Lower odds of being crime victims
 Enhanced legal and insurance rights and benefits (taxes too)
 Higher self-reported happiness
What are your thoughts on this list?
Marriage: Disadvantages
 Large investment of time, emotion and
energy
 Women’s finances tend to decrease with
marriage and the onset of domestic work
and/or children
 Possible domestic violence and isolation
 Takes away from community and social
connections – retreating into each other
Are there any disadvantages missing from this list?
Marriage: Diversity in Types
 Monogamy is the practice of marrying (or being in a
relationship with) one person at a time. It is still
considered the only legal form of marriage in modern
western culture
 Polygamy is a system of marriage that allows
people to have more than one spouse at a time. It is
practiced among some subcultures around the world
but is not widely acknowledged as a legitimate form
of marriage
Marriage: Diversity in Types
 Polygyny is a system of marriage that allows men to
have multiple wives. This is the most common form
of polygamy. This form of marriage can be legal in
some countries but is most often “spiritual.”
Do you think it served a purpose at one time in certain cultures?
Marriage: Diversity in Types
 Polyandry is a system of marriage that allows
women to have multiple husbands. This is a more
rare form of polygamy. Polyandry is recognized by
some tribal legal systems but is also most often
“spiritual.”
Marriage: Divorce
 Marital Entropy is the
principal that if a marriage
does not receive
preventative maintenance
and upgrades it will move
towards decay and break
down
 There are numerous
reasons for divorce beyond
lack of maintenance
What do you find interesting about the main
reasons for divorce?
Let’s Consider:
 Instructions:
 Divide yourself into groups
 Designate a “speaker” to present your group’s point of view
 Take 5 minutes and discuss the following questions
Should singlehood be the preferred choice for people under the
age of 30?
Should the legal age of marriage be raised in the United
States?
(It ranges from 15, with parents consent, to 18)
NonMrarieds
 Four types of singles*
• Voluntary temporary
• Voluntary stable (permanent)
• Involuntary temporary
• Involuntary stable (permanent)
Demographic and Myths of Single Life
Do you think there is a stigma attached with not being married by a certain age?
NonMrarieds: 4 Types
 Involuntary Temporary
 Would like to get married and are actively seeking a mate
 Voluntary Stable (permanent)
 Single by choice and satisfied with that decision
 Includes those who have a lifestyle that precludes traditional
heterosexual marriage
 People who fit in this category
Members of religious orders
 Gays and lesbians (although this is changing with civil unions and
same-sex marriage legislation)

NonMrarieds: 4 Types
 Voluntary Temporary
 They are open to marriage but place a lower priority on
searching for mates than on other activities (education, career,
politics)
 Involuntary Stable (permanent)
 Dissatisfied with their singlehood but feel it is permanent
 People who fit in this category

Professional successful women for whom
finding a suitable mate is often a problem
of demographics – lack of older, well
educated single men*
NonMrarieds: Statistics
 Increase in never-married adults
 2003: 24.4 % of U.S adults 18+ years old
 2006: 73% of 20-29 ♂ year olds

2006: 62% of 20-29 ♀ year olds
 Never-married by Race/Ethnicity
 38.9% of African Americans (over 1/3)
 30.9% of Hispanics (less than 1/3)
 22.2% of Whites (less than ¼)
NonMrarieds: Statistics
Blacks are almost
as likely to be
never married as
married
What else does this
graph tell us?
NonMrarieds: Statistics
By 75, almost
everyone has
married once
Non Marrieds: Same Sex Couples
Non Marrieds: Same Sex Couples
 Marriage, according to GLAD, is a unique legal status
conferred by and recognized by governments the world over.
It brings a host of reciprocal obligations, rights and
protections. It is a cultural institution and is a fundamental
protecting conveying clearly that you and your life partner love
each other and are united and belong by each other’s side.
No other word has that power, and no other word can provide
that protection
VS
 Civil Union is a legal status created by the sate of Vermont in
2000 and subsequently by the states of Connecticut, New
Hampshire, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Illinois, Delaware and
Hawaii. It provides legal protection to couples at the state law
level, but omits federal protections as well as the dignity,
clarity and security and power of the word “marriage”
Non Marrieds: Same Sex Couples
 As of January 2013, 9 states – Connecticut, Iowa, Maine, Maryland,
Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont and
Washington – as well as the District of Columbia and two Native
American tribes – have legalized same-sex marriage
 In addition, Rhode Island recognizes same-sex marriages
performed in other jurisdictions, and California, which briefly granted
same-sex marriages in 2008, now recognizes them on a conditional
basis
 While several jurisdictions have legalized same-sex marriage
through court rulings, legislative action, and popular vote, 9 states
prohibit same-sex marriage by statute and 30 prohibit it in their
constitutions.
 The defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), enacted in 1996, prevents
the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriages
performed in other states. The provision of DOMA has been found
unconstitutional in 8 federal courts, including 2 federal appeals
courts. 5 of these cases are pending review in the Supreme Court.
NonMarrieds: Cohabitation
 Cohabitation is living together as a romantically
involved, unmarried couple
NonMarrieds: Cohabitation
 Who cohabitates?
• Between 50-60% of new marriages now involve couples who
have lived together first
• Typical cohabitating couple
•
•
Between 24-34 years old
Transition to cohabitation occurred rapidly (within 6 months) with
plans for a future not having been discussed
Do you suppose the high percentage of new marriages involving cohabitating
couples are reflected in divorce rates?
NonMarrieds: Cohabitation
 Before 1960, and Three’s
Company, cohabitation
was rarely ever heard of.
 About 8% of all
households are occupied
by couples who are
cohabitating
As Sociologists, it is our job to
understand why the number of people
cohabitating has increased so much
over the last few decades. Why do
you think this is?
Non Marrieds: Cohabitation
NonMarrieds: Cohabitation
 In Europe, cohabitation is a much more popular and
socially acceptable living arrangement
NonMarrieds: Cohabitation
 What makes the U.S. different?
 Strong emphasis on individualism. In particular, expressive
individualism which emphasizes personal satisfaction, self
expression and personal growth
 As a result, more short-term, fragile cohabitating relationships
exist
 This means Americans partner up frequently, for shorter
amounts of time and then repeat the process
NonMarrieds: Cohabitation Activity
 Instructions: Break into small groups. Discuss what you
know about cohabitation. Use your sociological imagination.
Brainstorm a hypothesis for why cohabitation is increasing.
They don’t have to be the examples below, think outside the
box. Designate one person to share the hypothesis with the
class.
 Why Cohabit?
•
•
Can not be examined separately from the social context
Reasons
•
•
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Finances
• Consider the economy
Convenience
• Childcare?
• Increased switch to urban areas
Housing needs
Do you suppose that the reasons for cohabitation effect the outcomes of
cohabitation?
NonMarrieds: Cohabitation
 Negative effects of cohabitation on marriage
•
•
No evidence that cohabitation weeks out incompatible couples and
prepares people for successful marriages
The divorce rate among those who cohabited before getting married
is higher than those who have not
•
•
•
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Not believes in marriage to begin with?
More committed to autonomy than marriage?
Focus on individual need fulfillment
For marriage specifically:
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If cohabitation was a precursor to marriage for both participants (they
cohabit after they have made plans to marry which is approximately
46%) this arrangement is seen as prenuptial and does not seem to
effect the marriage outcome
 A crucial component for success in any relationship
(cohabitating or marriage)is communication of intention
from both partners*
NonMarrieds: Advantages
 Opportunities for self-development and personal





growth
Opportunities to meet different people and have a
variety of friendships*
Economic independence
Varied sexual experience
Freedom to control own life*
Opportunities for career change*
NonMarrieds: Disadvantages
 Loneliness
 Economic hardship*
 Feeling out of place in social gatherings
 Sexual frustration
 Lack of children or lack of family in which to bring up
children
 Lack of family or close social ties*
Families: General Definitions
 US Census Bureau:
Defines family as two or more individuals related by blood,
marriage or adoption living in the same household
 Sociologists:
Define family as a social group whose members are bound by
legal, biological or emotional ties or a combination of all three
What are your thoughts on these definitions?
Families: What is a Family?
 Nuclear family
• A familial form consisting of a
father, mother and biological
children
• Parsons, a structural-functional
theorist, discussed gender roles
within this type of family
How common is this family type now?
Why?
Families: What is a Family?
 Extended Family
• A large group of relatives, usually including at least three
generations living either in one household or in close proximity
• Used to be very common and is becoming more common
again
Why is this family becoming
more common?
Families: What is a Family?
 Kin
• Relatives or relations,
usually those related by
common descent
How might this type of family
life relate to arranged
marriages?
Applying theories
 Social Exchange Theory
 Individuals weight the cost benefits of mate selection and remaining in a marriage
 Conflict Theory
 Authority comes from institutionalized, legitimate power
 Institutionalized means embedding concepts, social roles, values and norms within
a social system or society
 Functionalist Theory
 Society in a state of balance
 Specific parts have specific functions
 Family Systems Theory
 Family is understood by conceptualizing it as a complex, dynamic, changing
collection of parts, subsystems and family members
 Life Course Theory
 Marriage is an ongoing career that occurs within the context of other life course
events. Relates to broader social context.
How do these theories apply to this lecture on marrieds, nonmarrieds and families?
Food for Thought