Chapter 8: Marriage and Cohabitation

According to economist Gary Becker, the process of finding a partner is like a -where you get the - spouse with the - you have.

marketplace best assets

Which statement describes the assumptions that underlie Becker's marketplace theory of marriage?

√Correct choiceMarriage is voluntary and there is competition for mates.

Which of the following factors explain why Americans spend far fewer of their adult years in marriage now compared with the 1950s?

Factor(s) increased incidence of divorce delays in when men and women first marry Not Factor(s) lower fertility rates increased incidence of widowhood among some groups

Marriage rates have declined overall since the 1960s, but they have fallen faster for some groups over others. Match each group to the appropriate label based on whether its members have a higher or lower chance of marrying in any given year.

Higher ChanceSELECT A LABEL Correct label:college degree holders Correct label:the wealthy Lower ChanceSELECT A LABEL Correct label:the poor Correct label:African Americans

Nadia decided to use an online dating site because it was difficult to find potential dates amid work, school, and time with family. She enjoyed perusing profiles and finding people she thought she might connect with. Recently, she received messages from Antonio and Clyde, and both suggested meeting up for coffee. She was torn, because Antonio had attended a small liberal arts college and already had a steady job, much like herself, whereas Clyde was similar to her based on her interests in the outdoors and pets, but he did not have a college degree or a steady job. Against her instincts, she set up a date with Clyde. Nadia hoped that someday she would find a partner who fit all of her preferences, but living in a small town, she didn't have a lot of options.

She was torn, Against her instincts, she set up a date with Clyde. she didn't have a lot of options

The textbook argues that increasing numbers of cohabiting couples could mean that marriage is eroding and being replaced by short-term cohabitation, or that cohabitation is replacing marriage as a form of long-term relationship. Identify the evidence that supports each argument.

Short-Term Cohabitation Replacing Long-Term Marriage Cohabiting couples report lower levels of commitment than married couples. Most cohabitations in the United States last fewer than six months. Cohabitation Replacing Marriage as Long-Term Commitment In countries where cohabitation is more common, relationships marked by cohabitation are usually stable and long-term. There is increasing agreement with the sentiment that partners do not need to be married in order to be committed to each other.

The modern era is defined by the importance of -, which makes -marriage somewhat of a paradox. However, as the textbook explains, this paradox is resolved by portraying love as the result of individual -.

individualism lifelong choice

What is the average cost of weddings today?

$35,000

In 1996, the U.S. Congress ended - and voted in -. This move instituted Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, which implemented - requirements and funded - activities

Aid to Families with Dependent Children the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act work marriage promotion

Read this blog post on the 10th Circuit Court's 2014 decision in Kitchen v. Herbert on same-sex marriage.Identify the arguments made by the court in support of marriage rights for same-sex couples.

Argument(s) of the Court Same-sex and heterosexual couples alike may decide either to procreate or not to procreate. There is no comparison between no-fault divorce and same-sex marriage. No evidence exists to suggest that children raised by same-sex couples would fare worse than those raised by heterosexual couples. Not Argument(s) of the Court Same-sex couples are able to earn as much income as heterosexual couples and provide for their children in the same manner.

Place the women from the following racial-ethnic groups in order from the lowest to the highest marriage rates.

Blacks Latinas Whites Asians

Identify the scenarios that could cause a "marriage squeeze."

Cause(s) a sudden fertility rate (that is, the number of children born to each woman) drop among young women a large influx of young adult male migrants into the country Not Cause(s) a land war that wiped out a large number of civilians a preference among young people to marry others of similar educational attainment

Identify the concerns that critics expressed about the federal government's funding marriage promotion.

Concern(s) Poverty, not singlehood, was to blame for major social problems. Men and women in abusive relationships might be encouraged to stay in those relationships. Not Concern(s) The government had not properly vetted the people and organizations running the programs. The government spent too much money on counseling and education.

Identify which characteristics are associated with endogamy and which are associated with exogamy.

Endogamy useful for maintaining distinct cultures and traditions less extreme today than in ancient times Exogamy useful for communication and exchange across groups difficult to engage in across race/ethnicity, religion, and social class

Identify each example of a selection effect.

Example(s) of Selection Effect Cohabitors may have a more equal division of labor in the home than married couples because those who value equity may be more likely to cohabit. People who marry may earn higher wages because higher earners are more attractive mates. Not Example(s) of Selection Effect Marriage may make men happier than women because men receive more benefits than women from being married. People living in rural areas may be more likely to marry because of the heavy cultural norms encouraging marriage in their communities.

Identify the factors that tend to be associated with members of a racial-ethnic group who marry outside of their own group at higher rates.

Factor(s) family acceptance of other racial-ethnic groups belonging to a relatively small racial-ethnic group Not Factor(s) racial prejudice against the group in question belonging to a relatively large racial-ethnic group

Complex economic factors affect who is more likely to marry. Identify whether the following statements are more likely to be associated with low-income people or high-income people.

High-Income People have no need for a financial partnership are sought after on the marriage market Low-Income People feel they don't fit the marriage mold see marriage as a burden

Match each reason for marriage to the appropriate example.

Julie and Declan considered marrying when Declan lost his job and his health insurance, so he could be covered by Julie's policy.incentives Correct label:incentives Laurel and Isaac had been living together for several years, but they started thinking about marriage after attending their friend Margaret's wedding.imitation Correct label:imitation After Tanisha had been dating Leroy for six months, her mother started asking her when they would be married.social pressure Correct label:social pressure

For each comparison, identify whether the first group listed is likely to report more or less happiness in their marriages, on average, than the second group.

More Happiness wealthy versus poor Whites versus Blacks Less Happiness people who have been married longer versus those married for less time women versus men

Identify the reasons why people in American society are delaying or avoiding marriage.

Reason(s) A rising number of people simply don't believe in marriage. People want to wait until their finances are in order. Not Reason(s) People care less about others than they did in the past. Falling marriage rates since 1950 scare people away from marriage.

Watch the "Story Behind the Numbers" infographic for Chapter 8.Identify the reasons the narrator gives for the declining rates of marriage in young adulthood.

Reason(s) Many women do not need marriage for financial stability. Unemployment rates among Black men and men who have not completed college are high. Marriage is less central to how young people define a happy life. Not Reason(s) A decline in religiosity has made marriage less valued.

Identify the reasons why a large majority of adults eventually marry.

Reason(s) Marriage brings both legal and symbolic rewards. Media, family, and religious leaders pressure people to marry. People tend to do what others around them have done. Not Reason(s) Most people try to conform to the expectation that sex belongs within marriage.

Identify the reasons why married couples with children are much less likely to be poor than single mothers with children.

Reason(s) People tend to marry others with similar levels of education. Marriage is more common for people with college degrees than those without college degrees. Not Reason(s) Employers are allowed to discriminate against single women in hiring decisions. Single mothers spend more on raising their children.

Identify the reasons why Black men and women have the lowest rates of marriage compared with other racial-ethnic groups.

Reason(s) a high economic standard for marriage held by Black men and women high unemployment rates among Black men Not Reason(s) an age mismatch between recent cohorts leading to a marriage squeeze among Blacks less interest in marrying among Black women

Place the following events in the gay rights movement in chronological order.

Stonewall riot signing of "don't ask, don't tell" policy initiation of Defense of Marriage Act Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges case

Identify the statements that are supported by the data in the figure.

Supported Statement(s) Marriage rates among Black men have been dropping steeply since at least 1950. Women of all racial-ethnic groups marry at a higher rate than men. Unsupported Statement(s) White men and women marry at a slightly lower rate than all men and women. Marriage rates among Black women have recovered slightly since the 1990s.

According to the textbook, marriage is both a symbolic and a legal status. Identify whether each example is related to the symbolic or legal status of marriage.

Symbolic feeling esteemed and accepted in one's neighborhood opening a joint bank account and merging finances Legal obtaining employer-provided health care through one's partner

Based on the figure, what conclusion can we draw about first-time cohabitors in the United States?

The majority are still with their partners three years later, but those who are highly educated are more likely to have married.

Identify the true statements about religious intermarriage in the United States.

True Statement(s) Ethnic assimilation has resulted in increased rates of religious intermarriage for some groups. Intermarriage rates for conservative Protestant groups have not changed much over time. False Statement(s) Fewer than 50 percent of Christians are married to other Christians. The rate of religious intermarriage has declined over time.

Based on the "Story Behind the Numbers" infographic for Chapter 8 and the accompanying figure in the textbook, identify the true statements.

True Statement(s) The gap between marital status in 1970 and in 2015 narrows with age. A higher percentage of women than men ever get married. False Statement(s) In 2015, the age range at which most men are married is their late 20s. By their early 30s, modern men and women experience almost the same rates of marriage.

Identify the ways marriage brings about health benefits.

Way(s) through enhanced status through changes in behavior through increased cooperation Not Way(s) through additional responsibility

Place each racial-ethnic group in order from least to most likely to marry across racial-ethnic lines.

Whites Blacks Hispanics Asians American Indians

Match each social group to the form of cohabitation with which its members are most associated.

cohabitation before marriageyoung adults - young adults cohabitation after marriagedivorced and widowed individuals - divorced and widowed individuals cohabitation instead of marriagesame-sex individuals - same-sex individuals

Educational endogamy means that college-educated men tend to marry women who have a - degree. Marriage partners today are also often - in their career expectations. Together, these trends contribute to increased similarity within couples and increased - among couples.

college similar inequality

Place the following life events in chronological order to reflect the sequence that typically occurs for an educated young adult woman today.

complete education begin a career get married

Kevin proposed to Denique one evening, at the end of an anniversary date at their favorite restaurant. They announced their engagement to friends and family the next day. Over the next several months, they prepared for their wedding. They set a date and location and coordinated with caterers. They met with a minister who counseled them on their new roles and discussed the wedding procedures with them. They brought their families together to meet at a late spring picnic. They registered for new household items—dishes, linens, kitchen appliances, and some fun items. Friends held an engagement party for them as well as bachelor and bachelorette parties closer to the date of the wedding. They opened a joint bank account and made a plan for how to organize their finances. Finally, in June they had their rehearsal dinner and, the next day, their wedding ceremony and reception. Their friends and family attended, standing witness to their vows and celebrating their new status with them.

counseled them on their new roles brought their families together registered for new household items opened a joint bank account standing witness to their vows

Beginning in the 1970s, there has been a steady - in marriage rates for women. This is commonly referred to as the - and indicates the declining number of - per unmarried woman.

decline retreat from marriage weddings