Psychology 2035A/B Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Voluntary Childlessness, Nuclear Family, Gender Role

• School: Western University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: Psychology 2035A/B
• Professor: John Campbell

Document Summary

Marriage - the legally and socially sanctioned union of sexually intimate adults . However, the following social trends have challenged the traditional model of marriage: Increased acceptance of singlehood - since the 1960s, the median age of which people mary has been increasing. Increased acceptance of cohabitation - living together in a sexually intimate relationship without the legal bonds of marriage . Seems like an overarching philosophy that we now do not strive for permanence in the same way as we have in the past. Ex. now we change jobs, have multiple houses. Transitions in gender roles - role expectations are more varied, flexible and ambiguous. More women than ever are in the workforce. Old model was to get married and have children. Now people are choosing to not have kids. Shows the median age of first marriages. 1950 it was 20 and 23 for females and males. Now it is 26 and 28 for females and males.