IS COHABITATION AN ALTERNATIVE TO MARRIAGE? Harder claims that the Canadian government has progressively gained more power to determine the nature of relationships between individuals, as is the case when common-law status is given, and that the government need not take the wishes and intentions of the individuals involved into account. This means increased state control over who is obligated to whom, and in what capacity, as well as who is deemed an appropriate recipient of the benefits and services that those in publicly, legally recognized couples are eligible for (156). Assigning common-law status to an increased number of people might initially appear to contradict the state 's desire to limit the funding of benefits and services. However,
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As Le Bourdais and Lapierre-Adamcyk note, some preliminary research has discovered that, on average, cohabitating couples tend to more equitably split household chores and duties than do married couples. Those who are married also are less likely to maintain their economic autonomy and more often share these resources with their partners (940). It could be that people are recognizing the historic sexism of the institution of marriage and are more commited to forming egalitarian relationships. Due to differences between common-law couples and married couples, however, Le Bourdais and Lapierre-Adamcyk assert that cohabitation is “an alternative to rather than a true substitute for marriage” …show more content…
Harder proposes that a more effective way to reduce vulnerability in the population and promote individual liberty would be to pressure the state to provide “a state guaranteed basic level of economic well-being and the extension of benefits on the basis of individual entitlement rather than relationship status” (174). For many, this freedom will include the ability to reject any sort of relationship “legitimating framework” and to define their own intimate connections (175). Marriage as a concept is not in itself inherently problematic. Many people are attracted to marriage by the ideas of romantic love, commitment, and sharing one 's life with another person. Most of the problems with marriage, when understood as an institution, pertain to the structural level and state
As Le Bourdais and Lapierre-Adamcyk note, some preliminary research has discovered that, on average, cohabitating couples tend to more equitably split household chores and duties than do married couples. Those who are married also are less likely to maintain their economic autonomy and more often share these resources with their partners (940). It could be that people are recognizing the historic sexism of the institution of marriage and are more commited to forming egalitarian relationships. Due to differences between common-law couples and married couples, however, Le Bourdais and Lapierre-Adamcyk assert that cohabitation is “an alternative to rather than a true substitute for marriage” …show more content…
Harder proposes that a more effective way to reduce vulnerability in the population and promote individual liberty would be to pressure the state to provide “a state guaranteed basic level of economic well-being and the extension of benefits on the basis of individual entitlement rather than relationship status” (174). For many, this freedom will include the ability to reject any sort of relationship “legitimating framework” and to define their own intimate connections (175). Marriage as a concept is not in itself inherently problematic. Many people are attracted to marriage by the ideas of romantic love, commitment, and sharing one 's life with another person. Most of the problems with marriage, when understood as an institution, pertain to the structural level and state