Sociology 2235 Chapter 6: Relationship Progression Amongst Cohabiting Couples
9 Nov 2020
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Chapter 6 gender, power, and relationship progression among cohabiting couples. More than 2/3 of american women lived with a partner in their mid twenties. Majority of married women also lived with their husband prior to getting married. This study interviewed 30 cohabiting couples in the working class. Couples were asked how their relationship progressed from first meeting until the present and about plans with their current partner. It was focused on 3 stages: 1. how they became romantically involved, 2. decisions to move in together, 3. discussions about the future. The study examined whether cohabiting couples attempted to undo gender by challenging normative expectations that male partners assume primary responsibility for relationship professions. Findings suggested that cohabitation serves as an arena where normative gender roles are sometimes undone at least when it comes to establishing cohabiting unions. Women often instigate relationship progression by suggesting couples move into shared living arrangements or raising talk of marriage.
