2008 Woodie Awards
LIVING TOGETHER
Cohabitating couples recognize advantages, complications
Mary Ruth Vincent
Issue date: 4/29/05 Section: Issues
Marriage may be difficult, but according to marriage.rutgers.edu, married couples have substantial benefits over unmarried couples in work productivity, physical and mental health, general happiness and longevity.
Wesley Armstrong, a radio and broadcasting major, shares his insight on his living situation with his girlfriend and her family. He said he had to adjust to living in a new family environment, and it ultimately made him have new respect for his own family and appreciate the things he used to take for granted.
"At first I thought it was going to be great," Armstrong said. "But seeing a person every day gets really stressful. Then I started noticing things I never noticed before, like the way she ate food. I was like, "No way did you just do that!"
According to dating.about.com, living together is considered to be more stressful than being married. One of the reasons noted is due to less commitment between the couple.
J.R. Gonzales, a biology instructor, said he supports the idea of couples living together as long as they are committed and secure in the relationship.
"Personally, I feel its OK," Gonzales said. "The reason being is that it gives the couple the opportunity to see whether they are compatible.
"Also, they can work out issues, such as spending money and other things that will come up once they are married."
Gonzales said he would encourage couples to assess their maturity level and encourage them to talk to their parents about their decision.
Parental disapproval often is one of the problems cohabiting couples face, according to dating.about.com. Other problems may include a lack of common purpose, sex roles, division of labor and money.
The Concerned Women for America are disturbed with Americans' attitude towards marriage and relationships.
"Americans are turning to cohabitation as security against divorce," CWA said. "Cohabitation is not the answer to the rising divorce rate. Understanding, communication, selflessness and commitment to the marriage vow is (the answer)."
Wesley Armstrong, a radio and broadcasting major, shares his insight on his living situation with his girlfriend and her family. He said he had to adjust to living in a new family environment, and it ultimately made him have new respect for his own family and appreciate the things he used to take for granted.
"At first I thought it was going to be great," Armstrong said. "But seeing a person every day gets really stressful. Then I started noticing things I never noticed before, like the way she ate food. I was like, "No way did you just do that!"
According to dating.about.com, living together is considered to be more stressful than being married. One of the reasons noted is due to less commitment between the couple.
J.R. Gonzales, a biology instructor, said he supports the idea of couples living together as long as they are committed and secure in the relationship.
"Personally, I feel its OK," Gonzales said. "The reason being is that it gives the couple the opportunity to see whether they are compatible.
"Also, they can work out issues, such as spending money and other things that will come up once they are married."
Gonzales said he would encourage couples to assess their maturity level and encourage them to talk to their parents about their decision.
Parental disapproval often is one of the problems cohabiting couples face, according to dating.about.com. Other problems may include a lack of common purpose, sex roles, division of labor and money.
The Concerned Women for America are disturbed with Americans' attitude towards marriage and relationships.
"Americans are turning to cohabitation as security against divorce," CWA said. "Cohabitation is not the answer to the rising divorce rate. Understanding, communication, selflessness and commitment to the marriage vow is (the answer)."