How Unmarried Couples With Children Think About Marriage.

This paper examines union formation in mostly low-income unmarried couples who share a child using couple data from the Time, Love, Cash and Caring in Couples study, a qualitative study linked to the nationally representative Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study of non-marital births. The paper is based on the finding that while couples express a strong desire to marry they seldom do. I investigate why marriage is so attractive by asking the following questions: 1)What is their criteria for marriage? 2) What are the perceived costs and benefits of marriage? and 3) How are marriage and cohabitation different? I find that marriage is seen as a chance for an ideal relationship and personal fulfillment, and can only occur after meeting certain financial and relational conditions. Both men and women want to marry in high numbers and identify the same obstacles to marriage. Benefits to marriage include personal fulfillment, emotional and financial stability, and unconditional love and commitment. Costs are the risk of divorce, new obligations and expectations, and sacrifice and compromise. Marriage and cohabitation are viewed differently. Marriage is a choice to be considered for years, while cohabitation is something that "just happens", although it is important to live with a partner before deciding to marry. Obligations and commitments associated with marriage and cohabitation are also different. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]