Description
Book SynopsisLiving together is a typical romantic rite-of-passage in the United States today. In fact, Census data shows a 37 per cent increase of couples that choose to commit to and live with one another, foregoing marriage. This book provide us with an inside view of how cohabiting relationships play out before and after they move in together.
Table of ContentsList of Tables and Figures
Acknowledgments
1. Cohabitation
Exploring Contemporary Courtship Trajectories
2. In the Beginning
Becoming a Couple
3. Shacking Up, Living in Sin, Saving on Rent?
The Process of Moving In Together
4. “I Like Hugs, I Like Kisses, but What I Really Love Is Help with the Dishes”
The Dance of Domesticity
5. Family Planning or Failing to Plan?
Communication, Contraception, and Conception
6. For Better or for Worse?
Perceptions of Cohabitation, Marriage, and Parenthood
7. Waiting to Be Asked or Taking the Bull by the Horns?
Gender and Social Class Diff erences in Marriage Talk, Proposals, and Wedding Planning
8. Cohabitation Nation?
The Role of Gender and Social Class in Relationship Progression
Appendix A. Interview Guide
Appendix B. Methods and Sample Information
Appendix C. Specific Characteristics of Cohabiting Couples
Notes
Bibliography
Index
