Should We Live Together

3 Pages 632 Words

Should We Live Together?

Cohabitation is replacing marriage as the first living together experience for young men and women today. More and more young adults favor cohabitation during this age of divorce revolution. For them, living together seems like a good way to achieve some of the benefits of marriage without the risk of divorce. Couples living together can share expenses and learn more about each other. They can find out whether their partner has what it takes to be married. If things don’t work out, breaking up is easy to do. Cohabiting couples do not have to seek legal permission to dissolve their union. However, I believe that couples should not cohabit before they are married. Social science evidence suggests that living together is not a good way to prepare for marriage or to avoid divorce. Cohabitation is also not a positive family trend and tends to weaken the institution of marriage.
First of all, cohabitation actually increases the chance of divorce, contrary to the belief that practicing living with someone is preparing for marriage. People who are willing to live together are more unconventional than others and therefore tend to be less committed to marriage. Cohabiters choose to live together rather than marry because they fear permanent relationships and commitments. So it is easier for them to leave a marriage after they find it unsatisfying. Research shows that living together before marriage increases the risk of divorce by 46%. Moreover, the breakup of a cohabiting relationship is not necessarily cleaner or easier than divorce. Breakup involves breaking up a household and may lead to conflicts over property, leases, pastdue bills, etc.
Next, cohabiters usually value independence more and thus are less likely to support or be financially responsible to their partners. This could be a great loss for the female since they are performing all the duties of a wife without receiving any financial security. Indiv...