Marriage Prospects Research Articles

Unveiling the hidden burden: Exploring the psychosocial impact of cutaneous leishmaniasis lesions and scars in southern Ethiopia.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) poses a major public health concern in Ethiopia, with lesions and scars commonly affecting exposed body parts, resulting in physical, social, and psychological consequences. This study aims to assess the psychosocial impacts of CL, shedding light on the experiences and perceptions of affected individuals, thus contributing to the knowledge on Cutaneous leishmaniasis in Ethiopia and informing public health interventions to address its psychosocial effects. Using a descriptive phenomenological design, the study explored the lived experiences of individuals with Cutaneous leishmaniasis lesions and scars. Participants were purposively selected, and data was collected through open-ended in-depth interviews. The analysis combined inductive and deductive approaches through an iterative process, developing a coding framework with seven themes (lesion & CL scar each) and subthemes, resulting in giving important insights in the psychosocial impacts of CL. NVivo 12v supported the analysis process. The study unveiled negative views and misconceptions surrounding CL and its impact. Application of traditional herbal medicine for CL lesions often leads to pus formation and a foul odour, triggering negative attitudes from others, resulting in embarrassment, pain, and anxiety, leading to discomfort and isolation. The negative psychosocial attitudes associated with CL scars deeply impacted affected individuals, influencing their behaviour. This included isolation and absenteeism from school. CL scars served as unique identifiers, shaping the affected individuals' identity and self-perception. The unreceptive environment affected the participant's self-esteem and coping mechanisms. The negative impact of CL scars extended to role performance, marriage prospects, and overall happiness, particularly for females facing additional societal pressure and stigma. The study highlights the need for improved education and awareness about CL to reduce misconceptions and negative attitudes towards affected individuals. Additionally, more effective treatment options and integrated preventive ways should be explored to minimize the physical and psychological impact of CL on affected individuals.

Influencing factors of the participation of patients with severe mental disorders in community health service management.

This study aimed to explore the participation of patients with severe mental disorders in community health service management and its influencing factors in Wuxi. The data of patients with severe mental disorders were extracted from the Jiangsu Provincial Management System between 2019 and 2021. The participation of patients in community health service management was analyzed. A univariate stratified analysis will be used to assess the impact of various factors on inclusion in community management. Logistic regression modeling will be employed to identify influencing factors. Ultimately, negative factors affecting participation in community health management will be identified, followed by targeted qualitative analysis through interviews. A total of 27,977 individuals were included in the analysis, with 25,744 participants enrolled in community health service management, resulting in a management rate of 92.02%. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed the following negative factors influencing participation in community health service management: Age group 31-40 years (OR = 0.532, 95% CI: 0.434-0.653), Age group 41-50 years (OR = 0.557, 95% CI: 0.468-0.663), Age group 51-60 years (OR = 0.746, 95% CI: 0.635-0.877), Age group >60 years (OR = 0.840, 95% CI: 0.719-0.969), Duration of illness 6-10 years (OR = 0.376, 95% CI: 0.307-0.461), Duration of illness 11-15 years (OR = 0.312, 95% CI: 0.249-0.390), Duration of illness 16-20 years (OR = 0.702, 95% CI: 0.529-0.932), Duration of illness >20 years (OR = 0.701, 95% CI: 0.514-0.957), Education level of college or above (OR = 0.719, 95% CI: 0.560-0.923), Current student status (OR = 0.565, 95% CI: 0.419-0.760), Absence of social welfare benefits (OR = 0.643, 95% CI: 0.572-0.723), History of violent or harmful behavior (OR = 0.553, 95% CI: 0.442-0.692), Non-participation in community rehabilitation activities (OR = 0.170, 95% CI: 0.101-0.284). Conversely, the following factors were identified as positive influences on participation: Being a farmer (OR = 1.423, 95% CI: 1.215-1.665), Widowhood (OR = 2.355, 95% CI: 1.583-3.503), Divorce (OR = 2.992, 95% CI: 2.093-4.278). Qualitative analysis indicated that stigma associated with the illness, concerns over information disclosure, lack of social support, impacts on family members (e.g., children's education or marriage prospects), perceived ineffectiveness of community services, lack of awareness about available community health services, and the belief that services were unnecessary contributed to non-participation in community health service management. The participation rate of patients with severe mental disorders in health service management is relatively low in the Wuxi. Special attention should be given to patients with severe mental disorders who exhibit negative factors, such as being middle-aged or young, having a long duration of illness, a history of violent or harmful behavior, higher education levels (college and above), student status, or lack of social welfare benefits. Efforts should focus on providing social support activities, reducing stigma associated with the illness, and further improving the management rate.

PERSIAPAN PRANIKAH DAN SOSIALISASI KESEHATAN REPRODUKSI PADA CALON PENGANTIN DI KUA KOTA JUANG KABUPATEN BIREUEN

Maternal and infant morbidity and mortality rates can be prevented by preparing for pregnancy during the pre-pregnancy period. One indicator of the success of development in the health sector is the maternal and infant mortality rate, which represents the quality of maternal health. Pregnancy planning is an important effort to prevent high-risk pregnancies. Reproductive health plays an important role in the prospective bride and groom's ability to conceive offspring, thus preparation need to be well planned. It is by providing guidance and information, as well as pre-marital counseling to prospective brides and grooms, because the quality of marriage is determined by the preparedness and maturity of both prospective marriage partners in facing married life. The aim of carrying out this activity was to increase the knowledge of prospective brides and grooms about reproductive health to prepare for pregnancy. The method used was through counseling in several stages, starting from the preparation stage, implementation and evaluation stage. At the implementation stage, the material is delivered and leaflets were distributed to participants. The community service activities were carried out at KUA Juang City District. Juang City District, Bireuen, Aceh on May 22, 2024. The results of the implementation of this activity showed an increase in the knowledge of the prospective bride and groom, as evidenced by the discussion session, participants were enthusiastic in asking questions and during the evaluation, the prospective bride and groom understood the content of the material that had been presented. Health assistance from the pre-marital period needs to be a priority program to support efforts to increase the pregnancy readiness of prospective mothers.

High prevalence of female genital mutilation and gender-based violence among women in Ebonyi state

Female genital mutilation is defined by the World Health Organization as the non-therapeutic damage or removal of a woman's external genitalia, affecting an estimated 200 million girls and women globally. Female genital mutilation is primarily practiced in about 30 countries, including Nigeria, where over 20 million women and girls are impacted. Often performed on girls from infancy to puberty. Female genital mutilation is rooted in gender inequality and linked to motivations such as ensuring virginity and securing marriage prospects. Despite its severe complications, including pain, infection, and death, the practice persists due to religious, hygienic, and sociocultural justifications. METHODOLOGY: This study aimed to assess the awareness and perceptions of Female genital mutilation and Gender-based violence among residents of Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Data were collected via a hybrid questionnaire from 60 residents, analyzed using Excel and Power BI. RESULT: Results showed that 85% were aware of Female genital mutilation, but 65% were unaware of Gender-based violence. Additionally, 56% were unaware of related campaigns, and 65% were unaware of support services. DISCUSSION: Despite high awareness of Female genital mutilation, significant gaps in knowledge about Gender-based violence and available support services indicate a need for enhanced community outreach, particularly in rural areas. CONCLUSION: The study concludes that addressing Female genital mutilation and Gender-based violence requires comprehensive approaches, including legal reforms, community education, and support systems for survivors. Engaging men and boys and challenging harmful norms are essential, alongside sustained global cooperation and community involvement to eliminate these practices.

Revealing health and socioeconomic realities among individuals with sickle cell trait through case studies from remote areas of India

There is a widespread misperception that sickle cell trait (SCT) is not a major health issue, since people with SCT do not normally exhibit apparent symptoms like those found with sickle cell disease (SCD). Therefore, SCT individuals are often neglected, as SCT is assumed to be a benign condition. However, in the present study, growing evidence has linked SCT to severe health risks. This study aims to comprehensively examine the clinical and socioeconomic aspects of SCT individuals in Koraput district of Odisha, India. A total of 9 individuals with specific, uncommon comorbidities and social issues were selected for a detailed case study during the SCT screening program, which involved 1132 individuals aged 30 years and above from scheduled tribe (ST) and scheduled caste (SC) categories, unrelated up to the 1st cousin. Physiological measurements such as weight, height, blood pressure, fasting blood sugar, and haemoglobin levels were recorded. Mental health and quality of life (QOL) were assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and WHOQOL-BREF tools. In-depth interviews were conducted to explore socioeconomic factors. Case studies revealed various comorbidities and social issues among SCT individuals. These included priapism, anaemia, hypotension, low blood glucose, decreased BMI, reduced SpO2 levels, retinopathy, paralysis, social barriers affecting marriage prospects, diagnosis stigma and depression, neonatal deaths, clinical negligence, consanguineous marriages leading to offspring with SCD. Additionally, the economic burden associated with healthcare expenditures was evident. The study highlights the need for awareness and comprehensive support systems for individuals with SCT, particularly in marginalized communities.

Left behind or left out? Migrant brides’ worries for their children’s futures in cross-regional marriages in rural Haryana

ABSTRACT Cross-regional marriages in rural Haryana, driven by skewed sex ratios, have led to a pattern where women from distant regions and diverse cultural backgrounds, such as ethnic Assamese, Bengalis, or Biharis, are married into local Haryanvi families. This practice echoes broader trends witnessed across East and Southeast Asia. Transcending traditional notions of the family as a culturally sanctioned social network centred on biological and matrimonial ties, these cross-regional unions challenge conventional norms and societal fabric. This paper contends that the marginalization and stigma experienced by these migrant brides severely undermine their children’s future opportunities. Through semi-structured interviews with 24 migrant brides, the study identifies significant concerns related to their children’s educational attainment, social acceptance, marriage prospects, mental well-being, socialization, and overall life potential. The findings indicate that these children face substantial barriers to realizing their full potential due to inadequate familial support and pervasive societal biases.

The Role of Culture in The Continued Practice of Female Genital Mutilation: A Study of Attah Community, Imo State

Even though the practice of female genital mutilation is not meant to hurt women, it nonetheless endangers their health. This necessitates research into the amount of understanding and cultural complications that prevent its eradication in Africa and Nigeria, particularly in rural communities where the practice is very prevalent. This study, therefore, examined cultural factors that promote the continued practice of female genital mutilation in the Attah community, Imo State. Social convention theory was used as the study's theoretical framework. The survey research method was adopted for this study. Using the multi-stage sampling method, 674 copies of the questionnaire were distributed to the study respondents for the quantitative data. However, only 539 copies of the questionnaire were retrieved. This represents the sample size of this study. For the qualitative data in the study, twelve (12) in-depth interviews were conducted among village and religious leaders. Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) was used to process this study's quantitative data, while descriptive and inferential statistics were analyzed. For the study's qualitative data, analysis was done using the content analysis method based on the study objectives. It was found that males are more likely to make decisions that influence the continued practice of Female Genital Mutilation in the Attah community than females. The study also found that cultural expectations for womanhood rite of passage, marriage prospects, and the belief that women with FGM are more likely to be less promiscuous are major factors that influence the continued practice of FGM in the Attah community. Consequently, to end female genital mutilation in the Attah community, there is a need to address those religious and cultural beliefs that negatively affect the control of the practice.

Inter-Cultural Marriages: Challenges and Coping Strategies in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

This study was to examine inter-cultural marriages in terms of the challenges and coping strategies in Ini local government area of Akwa Ibom state, Nigeria. The study adopted survey research design. The area of the study was Ini local government area, Akwa Ibom State. The population of one thousand, two hundred and fifty-four couples were into inter-cultural marriages in Ini L.G.A. Purposive random sampling technique was used in selecting the married couples that was used for the respondents. The instrument for data collection was structured questionnaire which was validated by three expects. The sample size was 300. The major findings includes 10 prospects of inter-cultural marriage which were heightened cultural awareness and empathy, people are more tolerant in inter-cultural marriages than others, children of inter-cultural marriages feel affinity from the cultures of both parents among others with mean ranged from 3.06 to 3.50 and standard deviations ranged from 0.48 to 1.06. Ten challenges of inter-cultural marriages were identified with mean ranged from 3.07 to 3.53 while the standard deviations ranged from 0.50 to 0.94. 10 coping strategies of inter-cultural marriage were identified. This study recommends that couples who intend to go into intercultural marriages must understand clearly from the start what their companions will bring to the marriage, habits and attitudes learned from his/her family and friends and be carefully discussed before marriage and after marriage.

Marriage and Magic in a Transylvanian Village

"In this study I present the possibilities of magical influence on marriages, based on my fieldwork in a Transylvanian village. I investigate how, according to the villagers, the creation and dissolution of marriages can be magically influenced, and how they use magic to interpret the delay of the marriage, conflicts between spouses, broken relationships, and the death of a spouse. The location of the research is a village with an ethnically and religiously mixed population, where Reformed Hungarians, Orthodox Romanians and mainly Orthodox Roma live. The study is divided into three parts. In the first part, I will focus on the recollections of the older generation, in the second part, on cases that happened in the lives of the middle-aged population, and in the third part, I will compare cases preserved in memory with contemporary cases. This comparison reveals that methods of magical intervention have changed, as have the kinds of problems that arise. From contemporary stories, it seems that the marriage prospects of an unmarried youth are no longer influenced by magic. If there is a suspicion that a marriage is being prevented by magical means (binding), people try to break this binding with the help of Romanian Orthodox priests or seers/clairvoyants. Priests and clairvoyants also pray over the clothes of those wishing to marry, and at the same time mothers fast for their unmarried children. Magic has been replaced by methods drawn from Romanian Orthodox religious practice, which are accepted and practised in secret by most of the Hungarians in the village. Reflecting on the images of marriage being hindered by magical binding and of the predestined partner (RO: ursita/ursitul), I examine the relationship between Romanian and Hungarian beliefs and interpretative possibilities, referring to previous Hungarian and Romanian ethnographic research. In addition, I summarize everything that is important in relation to the specialists involved (seers or clairvoyants, Romanian Orthodox priests). According to local perception, the social institution of marriage can be influenced through magic. Marriage, divorce, and the death of one of the parties can also be interpreted magically within the local framework of interpretation."

Between Restriction and Liberation: Women’s Career Aspirations in Terms of Culture Perspectives in Asia

Women in Asia still experiencing difficulties in flourishing their career aspirations optimally due to strong cultural perspectives. This systematic literature review aims to explore the factors that influence Asian women’s career aspirations in various cultural settings. PRISMA 2018 was used in this study. Through Scopus, ScienceDirect, Springer, and Ebsco Host databases, we found eight articles that met the inclusion criteria after passing the article selection. This study resulted women’s career aspirations in Asia are influenced by internal enabler factors (including self-efficacy, career orientation, abilities and knowledge, need for usefulness, desire for family cohesion, and marriage prospects expectation), external enabler factors (including education, social support, contextual support, and cultural support), internal barrier factors (including fear of marriage prospects, beliefs on choice restrictions, and awareness of domestic roles), and external barrier factors (including social pressure, gender stereotype, peer conformity, financial hardship, and career consequences). Future research to examine women’s career aspirations in the wider cultural setting of various countries in Asia is needed.

Trend, determinants, and future prospect of child marriage in the Amhara region, Ethiopia: a multivariate decomposition analysis.

Child marriage is a harmful traditional practice, which compromises children of their childhood and threatens their lives and health. In Ethiopia, 58% of women and 9% of men get married before the age of 18 years. Surprisingly, parents in the Amhara region make marriage promises of their children before they are even born, which will hinder the region from attaining the Sustainable Development Goal of ending child marriage. Thus, this study aimed to assess the trends, determinants, and future prospects of child marriage in the Amhara region of Ethiopia. A repeated cross-sectional study was conducted using four consecutive nationally representative Ethiopian demographic and health surveys (2000-2016). A logit-based multivariate decomposition analysis for a non-linear response model was fitted to identify factors that contributed to the change in child marriage over time. Statistical significance was declared at a p-value of < 0.05. The child marriage practice in the Amhara region by the year 2030 was also predicted using different forecasting features of Excel. The trend of child marriage over the study period (2000-2016) decreased from 79.9% (76.7, 82.8) to 42.9% (39.1, 46.9), with an annual average reduction rate of 2.9%. Approximately 35.2% of the decline resulted from an increase in the proportion of women who attained secondary and above-secondary education over the two surveys. A decrease in the proportion of rural women and a change in the behavior of educated and media-exposed women also contributed significantly to the decline in child marriage. The prevalence of child marriage in the Amhara region by the year 2030 was also predicted to be 10.1% or 8.8%. Though there has been a significant decline in child marriage in the Amhara region over the past 16 years, the proportion is still high, and the region is not going to eliminate it by 2030. Education, residence, and media exposure were all factors associated with the observed change in child marriage in this study. Therefore, additional efforts will be required if child marriage is to be eliminated by 2030, and investing more in education and media access will hasten the region's progress in this direction.

Abandoning female genital mutilation/cutting (FGMC) is an emerging but costly parental investment strategy in rural Ethiopia

Female genital mutilation or cutting (FGMC) has profound consequences for an estimated 200 million women world-wide, yet affected communities often resist efforts to end the practice. Marriage market dynamics have been proposed as key to this resistance, because where FGMC is normative, parents are motivated to cut their daughters to improve their marriage prospects. Some economists have also argued that financial gain, through bride wealth payments, incentivises parents to cut daughter's at time of marriage. Bride wealth, however, does not necessarily equal net economic return, confounding efforts to test this assumption. Here we use detailed data on the financial value of all exchanges at marriage from Ethiopian Arsi Oromo agropastoralists to assess their association with FGMC. We also explore the idea that parents must replace FGMC with other forms of investment (e.g., education) when cutting practices are rejected. Multivariate multilevel Bayesian models were run using data from the first marriages of 358 women to assess the association between FGMC status and education and marriage-related outcomes: bride wealth payments, dowry costs, and age at marriage. Being cut is associated with lower dowry costs and earlier age at marriage but does not predict bride wealth paid by the groom's family. School attendance is associated with higher bride wealth, particularly for women with four or more years of education, and with later age at marriage. These findings indicate that bride wealth payments do not maintain FGMC among the Arsi Oromo. While we find a relative economic loss for parents from FGMC abandonment through higher value dowry gifts, this may be traded-off against the health benefits to uncut daughters. These findings point to the emergence of new norms, whereby Arsi Oromo parents reject cutting for their daughters and prefer their daughters-in-law to be educated.

LEGAL CONUNDRUM OF LIVE-IN RELATIONSHIP IN INDIA: A JUDICIAL APPROACH

The ideas of how men and women interact with one another and the attitude toward cohabitation, in general, have changed significantly with the advent of the post-modern or industrial society. “Live-in relationships” are an expression of a couple’s decision to cohabitate as a couple without getting married. The modernisation of the community has brought an array of new ideas and values. With the affection growing towards each other and the decision to tie the knot after taking into consideration all the prospects of a healthy marriage, youngsters these days believe in living together before marriage to test compatibility, known as “live-in relationships.” However, with modernisation comes the traditional thinking of our culture and the mindset of people towards these practices. Acknowledging the legal implications of the “live-in relationship” along with the challenges youngsters are facing nowadays, this paper highlights the analysis of laws that govern this practice in India.

"I Never Said Anything. I Didn't Tell Anyone. What Would I Tell?" Adults' Perspectives on Disclosing Childhood Sibling Sexual Behavior and Abuse in the Orthodox Jewish Communities.

Sibling sexual harmful dynamics (SSHD) is a term used, in this study, to refer to childhood sexual behaviors that are inconsistent with age-appropriate curiosity, including sibling sexual abuse (SSA). Although SSA is a prevalent and long-lasting form of intrafamilial sexual abuse, it is the least reported, studied, and treated. This study aims to deepen the understanding of the disclosure process of this phenomenon in the Israeli Orthodox Jewish society, as perceived by those involved. Participants were adults from the Orthodox communities in Israel who experienced sexual interactions/abuse with one or more of their siblings. This qualitative constructivist-grounded theory study was based on semi-structured interviews with 24 adults from the Israeli Orthodox Jewish communities. Seven barriers to disclosure were identified and organized into three main categories: intrapersonal, including denial of the acts, guilt, and shame; interpersonal, including the sibling relationship and perceiving the sexual acts as routine; and cultural, including lack of sexual knowledge, the concept of modesty, and marriage prospects. In addition, we highlight the intersectionality between the different contexts of the SSHD. This study explored the barriers to disclosing SSHD in the siblings' context and the context of the Jewish Orthodox communities. The findings contribute to understanding the unique aspects of the disclosure, as expressed in religious and cultural contexts, the sibling context, and their intersectionality. Cultural and religious sensitivity is crucial for practitioners, especially as issues of sexuality and sexual understanding stem from the related norms and values.

The goods (and bads) of self‐employment

The goods (and bads) of <scp>self‐employment</scp>

Love is Elsewhere: Internal Migration and Marriage Prospects in China

Migration and marriage are major life events that might interact and be jointly decided. Places with good labor market opportunities may or may not provide good marriage options. In this paper, I quantify gains and losses in marriage prospects for unmarried migrants and natives during the population redistribution driven by internal migration. I also examine how the experiences differ by individual characteristics and regional factors. The analysis measures marriage prospects using the availability ratio (AR) with adaptive assortative matching norms for every unmarried individual from sample data of the 2010 China population census. The AR quantifies the intensity of competition for suitable partners in the local marriage market. I compare (1) migrants’ current AR with an alternative AR if the migrant returned to the hometown and (2) natives’ AR with a hypothetical AR if all migrants returned to their hometown. The first comparison shows that among migrants moving for labor market opportunities, most women have higher ARs (better marriage prospects) in the place of residence than in their hometown, especially those of rural origin. In contrast, migrant men’s ARs mostly decrease after migration except for the best educated. The second comparison reveals small negative externalities of internal migration on ARs for native women but positive impacts for some native men. The results suggest a conflict between labor market opportunities that dominate internal migration decisions and marriage market opportunities in China. This study demonstrates a method to quantify and compare marriage prospects and extends the literature on how migration and marriage interact.

Parental attitudes toward the marriage of adult children with autism spectrum disorder and mental disability

For those who have autism or another mental disability, the prospect of marriage may be of concern for parents. Unfortunately, much of the literature is concerned with marital issues of the parents of grown children with Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and such concerns for their children have been rarely addressed. Furthermore, while literature has addressed the issue of culture and ASD it has rarely been associated with interventions that consider cultural and socio-economic perspectives. Towards understanding and the development of the strategy to help families and professionals deal with the marriage of those with mental disabilities entering adulthood, this paper investigates if there are differences in attitudes of parents towards the marriage of their adult children based on socio-cultural status and gender in Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, socio-cultural and gender factors are addressed as influencing factors for such attitudes in a country that has strong cultural attitudes to family life and gender. Towards further understanding the issue, these factors were also investigated as determinants of the attitude of the young adults themselves toward marriage. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with parents and their adult children. The results revealed that there were more positive attitudes towards marriage from those parents who perceived themselves to be of a higher social status and that attitudes were more positive towards males getting married. The study contributes to a gap in the research about the implications of culture for interventions for people with ASD.

Syrian refugee men in ‘double waithood’: ethnographic perspectives on labour and marriage in Jordan’s border towns

This paper discusses the socio-economic integration and marriage prospects of young Syrian refugee men in Jordan. Linguistic, cultural and religious similarities with Syrian culture in Jordanian border towns such as Ramtha and Irbid hold the promise of social inclusion and offer emotional comfort. Yet, this familiarity is combined with experiences of social alienation and labour exploitation. Based on qualitative research and ethnography, I propose the notion of ‘double waithood’ to capture the two main socio-economic axes that structure opportunities and the activities young men engage in. Apart from the time spent waiting for regulated residency status, young men wait to fulfil the economic requirements that enable them to marry and have a family of their own. While waiting for certainty, many are driven to informal and underage labour to help provide for their families. At the same time, migration as a rite of passage can enable young adolescents to transition to adulthood earlier, as many aspire to fulfil the criteria of the hegemonic figure of the economically self-sufficient male refugee.

Gendering the second demographic transition: gender asymmetry, gendered tension, and cohabitation in contemporary urban China

The Second Demographic Transition (SDT) framework highlights individuals’ ideational shift toward greater individualism in explaining the rise of non-marriage unions. Contemporary China has seen a substantial increase in premarital cohabitation. Drawing on 65 in-depth interviews with highly educated young urban Chinese women and men, this article examines the gendered ways in which young Chinese adults perceive and make decisions about premarital cohabitation, as they envision their ideal lives and what autonomy and self-realization mean to them. I demonstrate that while male respondents predominantly view cohabitation positively as a risk-reduction strategy for avoiding incompatible marriages, female respondents still consider cohabitation to be a risk-amplification arrangement in practice that increases the possibility of uncertain marriage prospect, unsafe sex, and reputational damages. Young women, but not men, often have to strategize—through carefully managing information disclosure—about persistent parental expectations that discourage women’s premarital cohabitation. As a result, while male respondents regard marriage to be neither the necessary precondition nor the end goal of cohabitation, female respondents, who otherwise emphasize autonomy and individualistic fulfillment, continue to desire a close linkage between cohabitation and marriage. Leveraging the unique strength of qualitative data in demographic research, this article articulates the gender asymmetry in how women and men perceive cohabitation’s risks, benefits, and link to marriage. I elucidate the gendered tension between privately-held ideals of individualism vis-à-vis enduring social norms of female marriageability, as women and men differentially navigate parental expectations surrounding cohabitation. In so doing, this article makes a theoretical contribution by bringing a careful treatment of gender into the SDT framework.

On the Body

On the Body