Premarital cohabitation as a pathway into marriage. An investigation into how premarital cohabitation is transforming the institution of marriage in Ireland. Athlone as a case study. Ashling Jackson, M.A. PhD in Social Science (Sociology) National University of Ireland, Maynooth. Dept. of Sociology May 2011 Head of Department: Dr. Jane Gray Supervisor: Dr. Jane Gray Table of Contents Dedication ..................................................................................................................... viii Acknowledgements ......................................................................................................... ix List of Tables .................................................................................................................. xi List of Figures ................................................................................................................ xii Summary .......................................................................................................................... 1 Introduction - Setting the Scene.....................................................................................3 Chapter One - Premarital cohabitation and marriage in Irish society: A new social terrain 1.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 9 1.2 Changing family patterns in Ireland .......................................................................... 10 1.2.1 Changing marriage patterns in Ireland ................................................................... 11 1.2.2 The emergence of premarital cohabitation in relationship development in Ireland ......................................................................................................................................... 15 1.2.3 Fertility outside marriage ....................................................................................... 18 1.3 Modernity as the social context for relationship development in Ireland ................. 20 1.5 De-institutionalisation of marriage in Ireland? ......................................................... 30 1.6 Conclusion……………………………………………………………… ………..34 ii Chapter Two - Determinants of marriage 2.1 Introduction………………………………………………………………………...35 2.2 Social factors shaping the decision to marry............................................................. 35 2.2.1 Changing economic conditions and relationship development .............................. 36 2.2.2 The loosening of the traditional hold of the Catholic Church on morality and family life ........................................................................................................................ 38 2.2.3 Increased access to education................................................................................. 42 2.2.4 Couple career paths ................................................................................................ 43 2.3 Individual agency and decision making in relationships .......................................... 45 2.3.1 Romantic love and relationship development ........................................................ 45 2.3.2 Modernity and mutual disclosure as a challenge to masculinity? .......................... 49 2.3.3 Interpersonal commitment and commitment to the relationship............................ 51 2.3.4 Previous relationships ............................................................................................ 53 2.3.5 Unplanned pregnancy............................................................................................. 55 2.3.6 Family of origin ..................................................................................................... 57 2.3.7 Peer group influences ............................................................................................. 59 2.4. A perennial sociological debate: social structure and/ or human agency in decision making……………………………………………………………………………...…..60 2.5 Conclusion ................................................................................................................ 63 iii Chapter Three Sociological investigation of cohabitation as a pathway to marriage in Ireland 3.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 65 3.2 Life course analysis as a methodological framework for this study ......................... 67 3.3 Choice of research tool to conduct a life course analysis ......................................... 71 3.4 Choosing a research site ............................................................................................ 73 3.5 Identifying respondents ............................................................................................. 73 3.5.1 Step One ................................................................................................................. 74 3.5.2 Step Two ................................................................................................................ 77 3.5.3 Step Three .............................................................................................................. 78 3.5.4 Step Four ................................................................................................................ 79 3.5.5 Step Five ................................................................................................................ 80 3.6 Fieldwork .................................................................................................................. 81 3.6.1 Exploratory focus group ......................................................................................... 81 3.6.2 In-depth interviews................................................................................................. 82 3.6.3 Conducting the interview ....................................................................................... 82 3.6.4 Emergence of a natural saturation point in my observation window time ............. 85 3.6.5 Transcription and thematic analysis ....................................................................... 85 3.6.6 Handling recall bias in this study ........................................................................... 86 3.6.7. Event history calendar ………………………………… …………………..87 iv 3.6.8 Data analysis .......................................................................................................... 89 3.6.9 Triangulation: in-depth interviews and event history calendar .............................. 90 3.7 Ethical framework for this study ............................................................................... 90 3.7.1. Voluntary participation…………………………………………………………..91 3.7.2 Consent ................................................................................................................... 91 3.7.3 Storage of information ........................................................................................... 92 3.7.4 Respect ................................................................................................................... 92 3.7.5 Prevention of harm to respondents ......................................................................... 92 3.7.6 Anonymity ............................................................................................................. 93 3.8 Limitations of the study ............................................................................................ 93 3.9 Conclusion ................................................................................................................ 94 Chapter Four The Marriage Paradox 4.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 95 4.2 Models of relationship development ......................................................................... 97 4.2.1 Model 1 The ‗child as a route towards formalisation‘ model ................................ 97 4.2.2 Model 2 The ‗prolonged courtship‘ model .......................................................... 105 4.2.3 Model 3 The ‗dinky (double income, no kids yet yet)‘ model ............................ 112 4.2.4 Model 4 The ‗intricate family‘ model .................................................................. 118 4.3 Religion and premarital cohabitation ...................................................................... 124 v 4.3.1 Model Five The ‗prohibition on cohabitation‘ model .......................................... 124 4.4 Discovering ‗The marriage paradox‘ ...................................................................... 130 4.5 Conclusion .............................................................................................................. 132 Chapter Five Maybe I will, maybe I won’t: The re-institutionalisation of marriage in Irish society. 5.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 134 5.2 Part One – Making the decision to live together ..................................................... 136 5.2.1 Life stage and relationship decisions ................................................................... 136 5.2.2 Premarital cohabitation as an organic stage of relationship development ........... 138 5.2.3 A change in commitment? ................................................................................... 140 5.2.4 Premarital cohabitation as way to test compatibility