Marie Claire News

Friday 9 January

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Married couples no longer seen as social standard

Unmarried couples to get equal rights

Marriage between heterosexual couples is no longer considered the 'normal' social set-up, according to the biggest survey of social attitudes in Britain.

A combination of support for gay couples and single parents from the government, an increased number of couples cohabiting and a failure to support traditional marriage are all stated as reasons why previously unconventional lifestyles are now more widely recognized.

The British Social Attitudes report by the National Centre for Social Research polled 3,300 adults and revealed that the traditional marriage is now seen by two thirds of people as almost identical to cohabitation.

Just one in four people believe married couples make better parents than unmarried ones, whilst a third of people think gay male couples are just as capable of making good parents as a heterosexual couple.

A large majority, 61%, also believe that single women should be granted sperm donation in order to have a baby.

The general consensus, however, appears to be that the importance placed on marriage has dwindled significantly and most of the population see a wedding as an excuse for a good old knees-up.

Simon Duncan, the professor of social policy at Bradford University who co-wrote the report said: 'The heterosexual married couple is no longer central as a social norm, but views are more traditional when it comes to bringing up children. Alternative family arrangements are seen as less acceptable.'

Wednesday 23 January 2008


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I for the moment find it better being single. I find it is more peaceful, less stressful, less tense. I can still see and meet interesting men, and/or still have one important man in my life without the stress of living with him everyday. I even feel that things are better with the kids, too. Check out the Washington post story about men in Japan, and how they are learning how to be nice to their wives, because these women are now asking for divorce in record numbers because of a new law saying they can get up to 50% of their husband's pensions.
Comment by single mom on January 24 06:56

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