SOC 440 - Marriage, Divorce, Remarriage

Americans love marriage. Most people will marry at some point in their lives and many will marry more than once. In fact, 40% of marriages involve a second or higher marriage for one or both spouses. At the same time, marriage rates have gone down, particularly for those with less education, and people are marrying later, with the median age at first marriage at 27 for women and 29 for men. In its place, more and more young adults are cohabiting, one-quarter by age 20 and three-quarters by age 30. Divorce rates remains relatively high, but there have been declines in the overall rate since the 1980s. Amidst these trends, the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage across the country. Before this, estimates showed 390,000 same-sex marriages, about 4 in 10 same-sex couples. This course will examine these trends as well as the decisions, relationships, and conflicts behind them. 

Satisfies a major requirement in Sociology and Gender and Sexuality Studies.
Satisfies a minor requirement in Gender and Sexuality Studies.
Satisfies an interdisciplinary minor requirement in Gender Studies.