Is Cohabitation the Replacement for Marriage?

Is Cohabitation the Replacement for Marriage?

Cohabitation or marriage? This is a dilemma facing many couples today. And it seems like cohabitation may be winning. In the last 60 years, American families have demonstrated what researchers call a “retreat from marriage” (Lundberg, Pollak & Stearns, 2016). The decline in marriage has coincided with a rise in cohabitation. An increase in divorce and cohabitation have been identified as some of the most prominent behavioral changes in families over the past decades (Perelli‐Harris et al., 2017). These two behaviors have profoundly altered the institution of marriage. What was once a lifelong commitment has become something that can be potentially dissolved. And certain aspects of intimate relationships that were confined to marriage now take place outside of marriage.

So, is cohabitation a replacement for marriage? This depends on an individual‘s perception of the institution of marriage. For some, cohabitating partnerships function as a transition into eventual marriage. They present an opportunity to learn more about their partners in order to decide if marriage is a viable option. For others, cohabitation is an alternative to marriage. It is a way for people to live together without the legalities of marriage, and to avoid the high-costs of divorce should the relationship fail (Perelli‐Harris et al., 2017). Cohabitation also has economic benefits for couples. Living together allows for the sharing of costs such as rent, food, and utilities. This has become a popular option, particularly for young couples looking to save money.

Cohabitation is not necessarily a replacement for marriage. Many cohabitating couples ultimately get married. But even more cohabitating couples have no intention of getting married. Of the various ways in which individuals can forge a family, cohabitation is increasingly becoming the most common. The institution of marriage has taken a significant hit in recent decades as cohabitation has become more socially acceptable. If these patterns persist, cohabitation may eventually replace marriage.