Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: As an indicator of social distance and social inequality, interracial cohabitation nonetheless has been attracting little attention in the past few decades. The current study is the first attempt in sociological academic field to examine the influence of demographic characteristics on the likelihoods of interracial cohabitation between whites and minorities in the United States. Using multinomial logistic regression with the national representative data of CPS (2003-2005), the current study investigates the influences of educational attainment on the likelihoods of interracial cohabitation between whites and minorities (Non-Hispanic Black, Non-Hispanic Asian, Hispanic) in the United States. With an emphasis on the examination of cohabitations between whites and Asian Americans, this paper finds that whites who are better educated are more likely to cohabit with Asian Americans, compared to whites who cohabit with other minorities. And it is true for both males and females. Additionally, contrary to the common idea that Asians are less likely to cohabit because of their deep-rooted and traditional family values, this paper finds that Asians in the United States have the highest percentage of interracial cohabitation with whites. Both findings indicate that, when taking interracial cohabitation into account, the social distance between Asian Americans and whites in the United States are even smaller than we previously thought.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: Evaluates relationships between time perspectives (Zimbardo & Boyd, 1999), or general preferences for a particular orientation to time (e.g., the past, the present, the future), and attitudes toward cohabitation. Results indicate that a Past-Positive, Future, and Transcendental-Future time perspective are significantly and negatively correlated with favorable views toward cohabitation. Implications are considered regarding childhood family environment, shifting views of the propriety of cohabitation, and a lack of romanticized notions of cohabitation.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: Although purchases of household services are widely regarded as an adaptation to the rise in women’s paid employment, little is known about how working women and their partners allocate money to outsource domestic tasks. Drawing on the U.S. Consumer Expenditure Survey 1998, this study tests hypotheses based on theorizing that recognizes gender inequality between partners, the gender-typing of household tasks, and the differences between cohabiting and married unions. Although women’s earned income contributes to expenditures on “male” tasks like home repairs and gardening, it is significantly more important for “female” chores like cleaning, laundry and meal preparation. For male earnings, there are no differences by the gender-type of tasks, but the paychecks of cohabiting men, as compared to married men, translate into significantly greater spending on male chores and less spending on female ones.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: Cohabitation is a complex family form that most Americans experience at some point in their lives (Smock 2000). Despite the diversity of cohabitation experiences, researchers focus on the temporary nature of cohabitation. Studies show that couples who have cohabited for five or more years make up approximately ten percent of the cohabiting population (Bumpass and Sweet, 1989; Bumpass, Sweet, and Cherlin 1991, Brown and Booth 1996). Yet, scant theoretical and empirical attention has been given to this subset of cohabitors. Wave 1 of National Survey of Families and Households data are used to analyze to what extent long-term cohabiting couples are similar to and different from other cohabiting couples and married couples on sociodemographic and attitudinal variables as well as measures of relationship stability and quality.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: Data on marital status is used to produce statistics on marriage and divorce, as well as to provide information on the characteristics of people with certain attitudes and opinions. As cohabitation has become increasingly common and accepted in the United States, statistical agencies face an increased need to gather data on non-marital cohabitation as well as marital status. Part of the purpose of gathering marital status is to provide information on family structure. Statistics on unwed births often include cases where both biological parents are unmarried, but co-residing and planning to raise the child together. Unwed cohabiting couples with children often function much like families that have legally married parents, but are often categorized as single parents in statistical analyses. Additionally, gay and lesbian couples with children also function as family units. These households may look like single parent families, with no indication that the child has two parents in the household.

A historical account of measuring cohabitation is presented, followed by a description of qualitative research that was conducted to develop better question wording for future measures. This research evaluated several different measures of cohabitation using qualitative techniques. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with 10 heterosexual cohabiters and 9 gay and lesbian cohabiters in Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia. Alternative wording was tested, and terminology was examined in both of these groups. Issues surrounding measuring cohabitation in the marital status question (i.e., by adding the category “living with a partner”) are discussed. Recommendations are provided for question wording that is acceptable, appropriate, and not offensive to these groups. Future research in this area will also be outlined.