Marriage and Cohabitation

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Marriage and cohabitation

Marriage is the institution where human beings attain a secure environment that enhance proper perpetuation . Human beings marry for various purposes which include procreation , comfort and companionship and for sexual satisfaction which is at times viewed as a basic need Although there are different types of marriages practiced all over the world for instance polygamy , polyandry polygyny , exogamy and monogamy the monogamous marriage is most advocated for as it entails the commitment of a man to a woman . Cohabitation

entails the living together of mostly a man and a woman without meeting any formal requirements while marriage entails witnesses and is officiated by religious leaders or officers in court (Smock J and Gupta S , 69

In marriage as opposed to cohabitation there is the recognition of the intimate relationship between spouses by the government or religious institutions . Civil marriage entails the signing of a contract between spouses . Marriages provide economic , legal and social stability . In most societies married people are respected as they are seen to form a family which is an agency of social control that is crucial in society . Again through the family the socialization process which is a vital aspect in human beings is attained . Marriages are mostly formalized through wedding ceremonies which can be in religious institutions like churches or by government officials . Marriage ensures that obligations to the participants and their families are created . Most people opt for cohabitation with the thought that the marriage may not work out and the process of nullifying it through divorce is expensive , takes time through the work involved and is complicated ( HYPERLINK "http /www .vifamily .ca /library /cft /cohabitation .htm http /www .vifamily .ca /library /cft /cohabitation .htm

However , the costs faced when cohabitation relationships do not work are more than those faced when married couples divorce . Marriage has more benefits than cohabitation

It enriches the relationship between a spouse and the in-laws and in case of the death of a partner they can help in rising of children bore Inheritance of property that spouses have acquired overtime is easier when spouses are legally married than when they are just cohabiting There are cases where people could be cohabiting for years , bear children and generate wealth collectively but due to lack of documentation or legal evidence that such had worked together a partner may bear the burden of raising the children alone without the wealth they accumulate collectively if one dies (Whitehead D . and Popenoe D 13

At times marriages identify the legal parent of the child and this creates some form of responsibility for the children by each spouse . It is easier to walk away and fail to support the children when relationships do not work out if people are cohabiting than when they are married . Civil marriages can only be nullified trough divorce which is done in courts . The legal process entails the consent of both spouses and interests of children are catered for . Unlike in cohabitation...