Marriage and Cohabitation in South Africa: An Enriching Explanation?

Abstract

Patterns of marriage and family formation in South Africa have changed dramatically in recent years. Many studies have indicated that marriage patterns and changes in family structure can be attributed to economic and social changes. However, the role of cultural norms and attitudes towards marriage and cohabitation across different social locations is under-researched. Using survey data from the 2005 South African Social Attitudes Survey, we investigate the extent to which structural variables and cultural attitudes towards marriage and cohabitation predict the likelihood of such transitions. In common with other research findings, we find that structural variables such as age, gender, employment status and location were significant predictors of marriage. However the findings also indicate that cultural attitudes, when examined in conjunction with sociodemographic factors, explains more of the changes in coupling in South Africa. In particular, individuals who cohabit as a means of preparing for marriage are significantly more likely to get married at some point in the future. We argue that explanations of low marriage rates in South Africa cannot exclude the cultural context of rules and norms governing coupledom.

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