Advantages And Disadvantages Of Cohabitation

1.0 Introduction

This report aims to explore the different views held on the issue of cohabitation in today’s modern society. The report will also provide background to the debate, its social significance, identify the parties involved and put forward the differing arguments related to the views held.

2.0 The Issue and background to the debate.

Since 1960s, cohabitation has been gaining popularity and the number has been increasing dramatically (Nicole Martin,2013). Majority of today’s marriages results froms cohabitating relationships (Smock, Huang, Manning, Bergstorm, 2006). Data from 2002 National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG) showed that over 60% of women aged 25 to 39 have cohabited at least once (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 2006).

3.0 The social significance of the debate.

This growing number of cohabitation has lead to members of the public to question the effect, both advantages and disadvantages of this phenomenon can have on the cohabitors and the society (Jennifer Roback Morse, 2001, The Problem with living together). Thus, the question here is what are the advantages and disadvantages of cohabitatation.

4.0 The participants in the debate.

The main participants in this debate are researchers, cohabitating couples and members of society who have expressed differing views on cohabitation.

5.0 The differing views.

5.1 Advantages of cohabitating

There are many who are of the opinion that cohabitation brings about a few benefits.

5.1.1 Economic convenience

According to Sassler’s research and other studies conducted, partners living together have better standard of living. This is because living expenses are shared among two (Kalyani10, Reasons why couples living together before marriage). Survey c...

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...d National Center for Education Statistics within the U.S. Department of Education, in 2001, 52 percent of all illegitimate births took place within a cohabiting relationship, compared with 38 percent in the early 1990s. However, the data shows that the percentage of women having a baby varies according to race and ethnicity. Nonmarital births among the white women was 61 percent, followed by 30 percent for the black women and lastly 65 percent for the Hispanic.

6.0 Conclusion

From the discussion above it is very clear that cohabitation has its both advantages and disadvantages. Just as benefits like testing compatibility to reduce risks and uncertainties, there are also drawbacks that can prove detrimental to the cohabitors; future. To decide which impact has greater consequence, more detailed research and analysis of the arguments of both sides are needed.