Blog 8: More View Cohabitation as Acceptable Choice

This article viewed cohabitation rates for Scandinavian nations, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. All of these Nations showed increases in cohabitation rates and decreases in marriage rates. In all of the countries studied, 15% to 30% of couples reported living together, except the United States which reported only to 10%.  Although the American’s rates were a little lower, it still reflects an increase from 500,000 to 5 million since 1970. As one of the results of the increased cohabitation rates, the United State’s marriage rate declined approximately 20% between 1995 and 2005. There are several ideas that were addressed as to how cohabitation is viewed by those who engage in it, and why. Some researchers believe it is viewed as a substitute to marriage while others view it as a convenience when dating. It was also suggested that there are several celebrities that live together and are setting the example that is ok and should be accepted.  Another statistic showed that 40% of unmarried couples reported to having their child under 18 living with them. The National Marriage Project showed findings that children in who live in homes with cohabitating parents have a higher risk of suffering from emotional problems, drug abuse, and alcoholism.

I completely understand the view of cohabitating for convenience when dating, but although I understand this view I do not support it 100%. Being that one of my focuses are on marriage in general, why it works, why it doesn’t work, and why it doesn’t happen as often anymore, I often come across couples that rather not marry at all. Many view marriage as just documents and more money that has to be spent just to have the man’s last name, when they can just cohabitate and save the money and hassle. While this is a very good debatable view, most of the couples that think this way don’t stop to think about how the child is affected in that type of decision. So although deciding to cohabitate may be hurting “only numbers”/statistics, it can also hurt the child and the couple’s relationship.

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