Male/Female Partnerships in Cohabitation and Marriage: Changing Trends in New Zealand

Abstract

Since the 1980s, more couples in Western countries have been cohabiting, either before marriage or in short- or long-term partnerships. During this period, marriage rates have declined, couples are marrying later in life, divorce has become easier, remarriage rates have increased, educational attainment has increased, and more women have entered paid work. While cohabitation now looks more like marriage, previous research suggests that cohabitation and marriage continue to exhibit different socioeconomic, educational, and gendered profiles. Drawing on New Zealand census data and other national and international research, this thesis examines the statistical differences between heterosexual partnerships within marriage and cohabitation from 1981–2006. The major variables include age, education, employment status, occupation, income, and parenthood. Insights from both macro-structural marriage market theory and micro-social social exchange theory are used to examine the changing trends in marriage and cohabitation. The thesis argues that cohabitation has become more heterogeneous over the decades, showing more discrepancies between the characteristics of partners than in the past. Cohabitation was once a practice of youth but increasing proportions of the middle aged and older population now live together outside marriage. While homogamy remains prevalent in New Zealand, many women continue to marry older men with higher levels of occupation, education and income. However, more partnerships (especially in cohabitation) now consist of older women and younger men or women with higher status or greater resources than their partners. I argue that these changes have been influenced by increases in women’s educational achievement and employment. Nevertheless, gendered differences remain within both partnership types, reflecting heteronormative cultural values and the impact of motherhood on women’s employment and earnings.