FNES 147 SINGLEHOOD AND MARRAIGE

Being single

• Singlehood is increasingly popular
• Due to individualistic nature of society in US
• Young adults are delaying marriage
• Average age at marriage is 30 for men and 28 for women
• Fluctuations mirror society’s attitude towards marriage and singlehood • Historically, singlehood was viewed as a transitional stage before
marriage and parenthood
• Marriage remains normative with 90-95% of adults marrying
• Rates of singlehood are growing
• 30% of adults over age are single
• 63% are men and 34% are women
• Number has increased by fivefold since 1960
• Will singlehood continue to increase as Millennial and Gen z Generations age?

Involuntary temporary singlehood

Among this category are singles who want to be married and who are actively seeking a marriage mate. This group of singles includes people who have never married, as well as those who were previously married and are now divorced or single.

Voluntary temporary

Singles in this category include those who have never mar- ried, as well as those who were previously married and are now divorced or widowed. Voluntary singles are not opposed to marriage; rather, they are not currently looking for a mate because it is not a priority.

Voluntary permanent

This category of singles includes those who have chosen deliberately to remain unmarried. The choice to remain single is stable and permanent over time. Voluntary permanent singles include never-marrieds, those who have divorced and have no intention of remarrying, cohabitating individuals, gay and lesbian couples, and certain members of the clergy, such as priests and nuns.

Involuntary permanent

In this category are those singles who wanted to marry but did not find a marriage mate. These singles may be never married, divorced, or wid- owed. Over time, they come to accept their unmarried status.

Experiencing singlehood

• Never married singles have not married, but may have a partner
• Differences by race/ethnicity • Student loan debt impacts major life decisions
• Fewer people believe marriage is necessary to a fulfilling life
• Being single is more socially acceptable • Never married report high satisfaction in friendship, health, and economic status
• Singlehood is a positive and satisfying experience for many despite cultural stereotypes

Social capital

• Individuals pool of social resources from a personal network
• Essential component of life satisfaction
• Strengthens wellbeing of single individuals

Marriage

• Rapid changes in the social functions, purposes, and relevance of marriage
• About 53% of American adults were married in 2022
• 5% decrease since 1995

Social dimension of marraige

• Marriage defines a couple as having a pair bond and characterizes the union
• Marriage provides a new identity for a couple and their roles
• Functions of marriage
• Establishing family identities
• Regulating sexual behavior
• Providing and caring for children
• Channeling flow of economic resources

Institutional marriage

Encompasses the responsibilities of socializing children to culture’s
norms and adheres to the idea that marriage is sexually exclusive and permanent
• Includes a structure of economic security
• Typically associated with patriarchal authority

Deinstitutionalization of marriage

Refers to the change from institutional marriage to one centered on pair bonds that meet individual needs

Browning’s 5 social dimensions of marriage

• Marriage as an organizer of natural desires
• Marriage as a social good
• Marriage as a communicative reality
• Marriage as a sacrament and covenant
• Marriage as a legal contract

Marriage as religious covenant

• More than 20 states have actively considered implementing legislation that prepares couples for married life and makes divorce more difficult
• Includes premarital counseling and education
• Provides grounds for divorce

Legal dimension of marriage

• Marriage is foremost a legal contract in the US
• Legal elements to a marriage
• Parties are legally able to marry
• Each party mutually consents to marry
• Marriage is a legally binding contract between parties
• Restrictions on kinship or age define the boundaries of a marital union
• Marriage laws vary from state to state but follow the same general parameters

Sexual Orientation and Marriage Laws

• US Supreme Court legalized same-sex unions in all states
• Support for same-sex marriages has grown significantly between 2007-2023
• Generational differences in support still exist

Before marrying

• Most people marry for love in Western cultures
• Discussing expectations about marriage is key
• Also important to consider reasons for getting married
• Do expectations align?
• Couples that communicate expectations can avoid potential trouble later

State rights and priveleges of marriage

• State laws regulate privileges of marriage
• State benefits:
• The right to visit a spouse in the hospital
• The right to make medical decisions on behalf of a spouse
• The right to joint custody of children
• The right to privileged and confidential communication
• The right to rear children in a manner the couple deems appropriate
• The right to to terminate a marriage according to the laws of the
state

Federal benefits

• Lower federal income tax rates
• Social Security and Medicare benefits
• Health insurance benefits that cover spouses
• Lower home and auto insurance rates
• Legal protection from domestic violence and abuse
• State-specific inheritance and death benefits for spouses
• The rights associated with the Family Medical Leave Act
• State-specific rights afforded in instances of divorce

Economic benefits of marriage

• Average annual incomes and financial assets are greater for married couple households compared to unmarried or nonmarried cohabiting adults

Specialization

Each spouse can take on tasks and concentrate on things

Instrumental support

Marital partners boost the productivity, career, and wellbeing of their spouse

Stability

Increased future thinking andn less risk taking behaviors

Status

Employers tend to pay married people a higher rate than singles

Health benefits of marriage

• Companionship and daily interaction
• Benefits of social capital
• Living in an intimate relationship influences positive health behaviors

Children benefits of marriage

• Children from homes with married parents fare better compared to those in nonmarital cohabiting, stepfamilies, or single parent homes
• Better adjustment in terms of:
• Health and well-being
• Behavior
• Emotions
• School success

Transition to marriage

• Forming a new family system
• Have to examine all the components and relationship processes that make up a new subsystem

Managing the house and money

• Managing the house and money
• Determining household responsibilities is determined by
• Gender socialization
• Abilities and expertise
• Power and control

Fostering a healthy emotional climate

• Balancing personal needs and meeting those of one’s spouse
• Learning to foster and maintain intimacy and love through developing identity, communication, and conflict management

Peer Marriages

• A marriage where partners agree to share responsibility for all
aspects of marriage, from earning money to raising children
• Four characteristics of peer marriages
• Marriage is not always 50/50
• Both partners have an equal say in important decisions
• Both partners have equal control and access to family earnings
• Each partner’s work is given equal weight in life plans

Challenges and costs of peer marriage

• Little validation and social support
• Redefine successful marriage that is characterized by traditional
male/female roles
• Others may be resentful of peer marriages
• Sexual dynamics are different than in traditional marriages – more
emotional intimacy
• Experiences may come from trial and error

Interracial and Interethnic Marriage

• Interracial couples, or partners of different race/ethnicities, experience potential challenges
• Historically, miscegenation was prohibited by law
• Increasing trends in mixed marriages with growing racial integration
• Indicates a decline in racism
• Factors that affect intermarriage
• Educational attainment
• Immigration status
• Geographical region

• Mostly the same marital challenges and stresses as couples
of the same race
• An additional challenge is how others perceive their union
• Managing societal disapproval
• Managing the effects of racial privilege

Interfaith marriage

• Interfaith marriage: Marriage between people of different faiths
• Intrafaith marriage: Marriage between individuals of the same
religion who follow different traditions or beliefs
• Benefits
• Increased awareness of cultures
• Increased religious tolerance
• Potential challenges
• Threat to the religious practices of the couple

Intrafaith marriage

Marriage between individuals of the same religion who follow different traditions or beliefs

Benefits of interfaith/intrafaith

• Increased awareness of cultures
• Increased religious tolerance

Potential challenges of interfaith/intrafaith

• Threat to the religious practices of the couple

Strengthening Interfaith Marriages

• Understand the traditions of your partner’s faith
• Do not try to push your partner into converting
• Be sensitive to cross-cultural issues by encouraging a relationship
between religious communities
• Recognize that a spouse’s religion is a part of them
• Discuss how children will be reared in regard to religion before getting married

Mixed-Orientation Marriages

• Marriage between partners who have different sexual orientations
• The pathways to mixed-orientation marriages
• Conforming to society’s expectations
• The gradually gay spouse
• Revealing the true self and identity
• Many factors influence a couple’s decision to stay together or
divorce
• About 80% end up divorcing

Satisfying Marriages

• Premarital couple types are used to understand factors associated
with successful marriage

Vitalized couples

•High levels of relationship satisfaction and equal roles

Harmonious couples

•Moderate levels of satisfaction and ability to resolve conflict

Traditional couples

• Strength in decision-making and planning but some dissatisfaction with partner

Conflicted couples

•Communication problems and difficulties in sexual relationship and joint activities

Marital Couple Types

• Traditional couples adhere to conventional beliefs about
marriage
• Independent couples value closeness, companionship,
sharing, and self-disclosure
• Separate couples are less willing to relinquish autonomy,
have lower self-disclosure and avoid conflict
• Mixed couples differ in marital types

Marital Satisfaction and Happiness

• Most research is tied to Family Life Cycle paradigm
• Pattern may follow a u-shaped curve
• Declines in marriage often mirror childbearing years – rapid declines for first seven years
• Research Is not representative of all families
• No inclusion of divorced couples
• No consideration of variations in complex families

Realistic expectations

• Relational expectancies refer to the expectations for the marriage and spouses
• Social expectations model illustrates how expectations of marriage are based on past relationship interactions
• Three possible outcomes for relational expectancies:
• When expectations are confirmed, relationship will remain stable
• When expectations are violated, it has a negative effect on relationship
• Highest levels of satisfaction are reached when expectations are tested and exceeded