Monday, July 23, 2007
Summary of "Cohabitation, an alternative to marriage?"
According to author Geertje Else Wiersma in his book "Cohabitation, an alternative to marriage?", 1983, "Marriage is, or perhaps more correctly, was often projected as the fulfillment of a romantic dream: two separate individuals finding each other, falling in love, and, after a period of going steady, becoming engaged to marry with hopes soon to live happily ever after"(1983, p.85). However, Wiersma also defines cohabitation as "either a gradual process without any real decision or, it occurs at a certain time after the couple has made a more or less evident decision"(1983, p.85"). She states the attitude of cohabitants towards marriage is a logical next step when they think their relationship has proven to be a good one and they would like to find a"more stability" and " more emotional security" in marriage(1983, p.91). The author also explains the attitude of marrieds towards marriage is "more practical conveniences", "a home life" and "somebody to grow old with"(1983, p.91). In addition, Wiersma reports that the four main points of cohabitants in comparison with marrieds are "position, structure, function and psychological climate"(1983, p.110).
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3 comments:
Is the number of people who choose cohabitation instead of marriage getting higher and higher? I hope to know how many people here prefer cohabitatoin and why. Also I'd like to know the advantage and disadvantage of cohabitation.
Before I decided to marry, I had some worries. I wondered if she was the woman I would marry and if we could live happily. Today there are many uncertain things like sudden dismissal, accidents, etc. Everyone lives longer than before and old people are not as old as before. And they prefer enjoying their life to taking care of their grandchildre. The situation where they rare their childre is getting harder. I think cohabitation is one of the best ways to have a family and children.
I agree with what you said that cohabitation is just another option to live together, not necessarily an inferior one. Although I can not quite understand what is the most important difference between marriage and cohabitation at present, I think cohabitation should have many advantages that marriage lacks which makes more and more people choose it.^^Good luck!
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