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Lauren Abers

Mrs. Cramer

College Composition 1

4 Oct. 2018

Cohabitation

Many wonders what it would be like to live with someone who is of the opposite gender.

This is called cohabitation. Cohabitation is when two people live together without being legally

married. Sometimes people who are cohabited will get married, some will have kids prior to

marriage, and some will end up married and divorced. The increasing number of non-marital

cohabitation among certain races, has caused an increase in the number of legal issues that

follow it.

First, cohabiting couples use to be nonexistent but since the 1950s the number of couples

who have become cohabited has increased. In 1970, 530,000 people were living cohabited. That

increased to 1.6 million couples living together outside of marriage in the 1980s. In 1990’s the

number increased to 2.9 million, and in 1998 the numbers were up to 4.2 million. The increase in

the early 2000’s was 5.5 million and the number is still increasing (Bramlett). Those who cohabit

for a short or long period of time before marriage, tend to be more likely to end up with

dissolved relationships or marriages. The average dissolution rate for women who has been

cohabited and then married was almost eighty percent. Women who are likely to cohabit

normally only do so for three to eight months. Couples who cohabit more than one time before

marriage are more likely to get married without a chance of divorce, but this is not one hundred

percent proven. People who are under the age of 21 when married are more likely to get a

divorce or have a separation then those who are 21 or older. (Bramlett) A survey done by Gale
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Encyclopedia of Everyday Law, states that women between the ages of 15 and 44 differ between

cohabitation and marriage. Twenty-eight percent of women have never been married or

cohabited, sixty-two percent have been married but thirty-one percent never cohabited. The other

ten percent were never married or cohabited. Within thirty years the number of people living

together outside of marriage between the ages of 15-44 went from the thousands to the millions.

Second, race, location and wealth seem to be another factor in cohabitation. People who

are non-Hispanic Black are more likely to get divorced after cohabitation. This also includes

people who are non-Hispanic White are more likely to marry after cohabitation. (Bennet,127-

138) Hispanics seem to be very into marriage before living together unless they are part of an

immigrant settlement. Out of these races, Women who are Hispanic or Caucasian tend to be

more likely to get married at a younger age then Black woman (Bennett 127-138). Along with

that, women are more likely to marry young if they live in communities that have high male

unemployment and higher number of poverty communities. With all these factors there has been

in increased chance that the first marriage will most likely end in divorce. Certain areas seem to

have a higher interest in cohabitation as well. In areas like Denmark, Sweden, Finland, and

France cohabitation is common. Also, there seems to an argument over what social class started

cohabitation. According to some researchers, they believe that cohabitation was started in France

among the upper-class kids and college students and moved into the lower class (Bramlett). In

Sweden on the other hand, cohabitation was said to be started among the working class. Married

men and women have a lower mortality rate, less risky behavior, and higher wages. It seems that

certain demographics and geographic play a huge factor in cohabitation.

Lastly, With the increase of cohabiting couples, there has been in increase in pre-marital

births and liability issues. Unmarried couples can dissolve a relationship with little to no issues.
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Yet, they still must handle legal issues. Property and custody can become a huge issue for those

who were never married. It is estimated that two-fifths of all children spend some time in a

cohabited home before the age of twelve. The increase of this went from eleven percent in the

early 1990’s to eighteen percent by 2001. Life for children in the 1990s was different because the

children were expected to live with their mother and cohabiting partner. It also seems that

children raised by single mother who are cohabited has a poor outcome on the child's life. These

children seem to struggle with things like academics, emotional behavior and depression.

Women who get married or have children at a young age are also more likely to end up with a

dissolved relationship or marriage. With property, unmarried couples do not earn the same rights

as married couples. Property that was buy or rented during cohabitation does not get distributed

after one spouse has died. This has become such an issue that family law experts state that

unmarried cohabitating couples should come up with agreement for things like property and

liabilities. The legal issues that come with non-marital cohabitation seem to outweigh the pros of

this arrangement.

When the increasing rate of cohabitation among certain races has increased certain legal

issues. Women between the ages of 15-44 are more likely to get married but only half are likely

to cohabit prior to marriage. Also, women who are of the non-Hispanic race tend to be more

likely to cohabit and get married. Women who are black are also more likely to get divorced.

Countries like France, Sweden, and Finland are more likely to cohabit then countries like

Ireland. Children also can be majorly impacted by this. The child’s academic growth, their

behaviors and emotional state can be inflicted by the facts that children born to unmarried

parents don’t get the same treatments and those to married parents. If you're thinking about

living with your significant other, you might want to check everything out first.
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Work Cited

Bennett G., Neil.”Commitment and the Modern Union: Assessing the Link Between

Premarital Cohabitation and Subsequent Marital Stability.” American Sociological Association

53.1 (1988) 127-138. Online.

Bramlett,Matthew. “Cohabitation, Marriage, Divorce, and Remarriage in the United

States.” Vital and Health Statistics. 1-32. Online Journal.

Cohabitation." Gale Encyclopedia of Everyday Law, edited by Jeffrey Wilson, 2nd ed.,

vol. 1, Gale, 2006, pp. 753-759. Student Resources In Context,

http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/CX2588700143/SUIC?u=pl1949&sid=SUIC&xid=7135f6e6.

Accessed 18 Sept. 2018