Chapter 9 Unmarried Lives: Singlehood and Cohabitation: Worksheet page 1

1. Chapter 9 Unmarried Lives: Singlehood and Cohabitation: Worksheet page 1 Oh to be Single, Footloose and Fancy Free! Mark which of the following statements are true concerning being single: • There are more single men than women. • There are more white singles than black American singles. • The growth of never married singles has been declining since 1980. • One of the reasons for single people delaying marriage is because of the persistent divorce rate in American. • One reason single women are staying single longer is because of the expanded educational and employment opportunities for them. • Even though there are lots of single people, being single is more stigmatized that it has ever been. • If people remain single it is because they are self-centered and immature. • Singlism means that singles are stereotyped and taken advantage of. • Compared to their divorced and widowed counterparts, never-married mean fare better than never-married women. • Matrimania is promoted by folks in society to indicate that only married folks can be truly happy. List three reasons why you want to remain single to age 25 or get married by age 25. 1. 2. 3.

2. Chapter 9 Unmarried Lives: Singlehood and Cohabitation: Worksheet page 2 What is cohabitation? ______________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ Mark which of the following statements are true concerning cohabitation: • Cohabitation has increased across all socioeconomic, age, and racial groups. • It is estimated that there are about 2 million cohabiting couples in the U.S. • Cohabitation has become more acceptable as a life style in America. • Cohabitation is more likely among those with more education. • Men with less than full-time, year-round employment are more likely to cohabit than to marry. • Black and Hispanic women are more likely to become pregnant while cohabiting and to continue to cohabit rather than marry after their children are born. • Some folks believe that cohabitation is a substitute for marriage or a trial marriage. • Cohabiting couples are more likely to be sexually monogamous than married couples. • Cohabiting couples are more committed than married couples. • In general, cohabiting couples do not share or pool their money. • In cohabiting relationships, the man is not expected to support his partner. • In cohabiting relationships, women tend to do more of the domestic work than their males partners. • Although cohabiting couples think that cohabitation helps prepare them for marriage, research as shown that couples are more likely to divorce if they lived together before marriage. List 4 disadvantages of cohabitation versus marriage: 1. 2. 3. 4.

3. Chapter 9 Unmarried Lives: Singlehood and Cohabitation: page 1 KEY Oh to be Single, Footloose and Fancy Free! 1. The largest group of singles in the United States is those who are never married. 2. There are more single men than women. (False) 3. The largest percentage of unmarried individuals is found in the Hispanic culture. (False) 4. There are more white singles than black American singles. (False) 5. The growth of never married singles has been declining since 1980. (False) 6. Voluntary, involuntary, permanent and temporary are all types of never-married singles. 7. One of the reasons for single people delaying marriage is because of the persistent divorce rate in American. 8. Imbalance in the sex ratio, increasing educational options and delayed marriage are all reasons why there is an increase in the number of single adults. 9. One reason single women are staying single longer is because of the expanded educational and employment opportunities for them. 10. Halo effect: The assumption that good-looking people posses more desirable social characteristics. 11. Even though there are lots of single people, being single is less stigmatized that it has ever been. 12. If people remain single it is because they are self-centered and immature. (False) 13. Singlism means that singles are stereotyped, taken advantage of, and experience prejudice and discrimination. 14. Compared to their divorced and widowed counterparts, never-married men fare better than never-married women. (False) 15. Myths of being singles include: All single women want to be married, singles are bitter and lonely, and singles are self-centered and immature. 16. Matrimania is promoted by folks in society to indicate that only married folks can be truly happy. 17. The hook up culture is believe to make relationship building easier. (False) List three reasons why you want to remain single to age 25 or get married by age 25. 1. Have students put in their own answers. 2. 3.

4. Chapter 9 Unmarried Lives: Singlehood and Cohabitation: page 2 KEY What is cohabitation? The sharing of living quarters by a couple who is involved in an ongoing emotional and sexual relationship. • Cohabitation has increased across all socioeconomic, age, and racial groups. • If we judge the relationship to be successful, our commitment to a relationship will remain high. • It is estimated that there are about 2 million cohabiting couples in the U.S. • Cohabitation has become more acceptable as a life style in America. • Cohabitation is more likely among those with more education. (False) • Men with less than full-time, year-round employment are more likely to cohabit than to marry. • Black and Hispanic women are more likely to become pregnant while cohabiting and to continue to cohabit rather than marry after their children are born. • Research shows children born with cohabitating parents do not do better than children born with married parents. • Some folks believe that cohabitation is a substitute for marriage or a trial marriage. • Common law marriage requires that the couple presents themselves as married. • Cohabiting couples are more likely to be sexually monogamous than married couples. • Couples who cohabit before remarrying tend to be less happy than those who do not cohabit before remarriage. • Cohabiting couples are more committed than married couples. • Divorced people who choose to cohabit before they marry again are much happier in their next marriage. (False) • In general, cohabiting couples do not share or pool their money. • In cohabiting relationships, the man is not expected to support his partner. • In cohabiting relationships, women tend to do more of the domestic work than their males partners. • Homogamy is the tendency to marry people much like ourselves. • Although cohabiting couples think that cohabitation helps prepare them for marriage, research as shown that couples are less happy and are more likely to divorce if they lived together before marriage. List 4 disadvantages of cohabitation versus marriage: 1. Often don’t receive approval or help from parents. 2. Don’t have the same rights as married folks: Examples: can’t buy homes together. If father’s leave, children are not guaranteed financial support from nonresidential fathers. 3.If one partner has children, the other partner is not as involved with the children as he or she would be if they were married. 4. Cohabiting couples generally don’t last more than two years; couples either break up or marry.