Comparison of Cohabitation and Marriage: Advantages and Disadvantages

In our modern world, there are so many couples that are adapting to the idea of living together with their partners as an alternative to marriage or just to get a taste of how marriage is. Cohabitation and marriage are quite different in various ways and at the same time have their similarities. Of course, they have their good sides and also their bad sides but which one can we say is truly a better option?

When the word marriage pops up, most of us if not all, think of the union between a man and a woman which could be for the purpose of bringing forth and raising offspring or the desire for companionship. Honestly, the way marriage is defined is different across various cultures, communities, states, countries and even continents. Marriage is more than just the union between a man and a woman.

A universal way that it can be defined is that, it is the legal, permanent and private union between two individuals which could be with the intention of raising a family, having the feeling of completeness, comfort or for companionship, protection and intimacy. In religion, for example Christianity, marriage is a covenant that was designed by God and it is a way that married couples can show their love for God and serve Him jointly. Most times, individuals get married to have children and to have someone to pass on their name and also their legacy. Marriage leads to the fundamental unit in a society which is the family. The family could be just a husband and a wife, a couple with their children (which could be biological or adopted) or it could be a couple with their children and other relatives.

Marriage comes with its benefits and its struggles too. It is not just a bed of roses. If you think that marriage is going to be the end of all your problems, that you would not have any challenges and it would be smooth sailing ahead then you are lying to yourself. Marriage is hard work. You are literally sharing your life with your partner forever and as a result there would be conflicts and your interests would eventually clash because no one is perfect. I am not saying that marriage is all bad, no. Just like everything has two sides, marriage has its sweet side. The pros and cons of marriage would be discussed in the following paragraph respectively.

Marriage comes with a number of benefits. One is that if you get married to a spouse that is dependable and decent, you will get a lot of support. Being married comes with its difficulties but when you have a dependable spouse, it is easier to go through those difficulties together. You would have a shoulder to lean on, someone you can share your problems and burdens with and someone who can support you financially because there is more money between two people compared to just one person. It just lifts a heavy load from you.

Also, as I mentioned earlier, marriage forms the fundamental unit of a society which is the family. Children are given birth to daily and what a child would become in future would be influenced by his environment and where he grew up. Marriage incudes both a father and a mother and having both of the present is essential for the upbringing of a child.

A female child growing up without a father will end up looking for a father figure somewhere else and this could put her in danger. A Male child growing up without a mother could have problems with his future relationships because he would be looking for the comfort he could not get from his mother. A child growing up in a good home with both parents together would have a better chance of turning out well in life because he would be protected, loved and comforted.

Marriage also comes with its difficulties. When two individuals get married, they become one and their freedom is restricted. They would have more responsibilities which would mean that they cannot put their personal interest first. Before making decisions, they have to see if it would be beneficial to the family. Major decisions cannot be made by one person, it has to be a joint decision

Another con is that some women end up getting married to men who abuses them physically and emotionally. Children who grow up in abusive homes usually get traumatized. This is one of the reasons why a lot of couples get divorced and getting a divorce is not easy. Legal documents have to be signed, you have to go to court and a lot of money is lost for either party. Some women move away from the house instead of getting a divorce because marriage is permanent and they would want to please God.

Now we go into cohabitation. Cohabitation is when two individuals live together without being married and this usually involves being in a sexual, long-term relationship. Nowadays, more people prefer living together to getting married. Most couples cohabit before marriage for various reasons. A lot of couples do prefer cohabitation because they do not want a lifelong commitment and they believe it would not lead to a divorce. People are scared of making the mistake of spending their lives with the wrong person forever. Just like marriage, cohabitation also has its pros and cons and they would be discussed in the following paragraphs respectively.

A benefit of cohabitation is that you get to experience a bit of how your partner truly behaves. People believe that couples who cohabit have less chances of getting a divorce if they eventually get married. It gives them a chance to learn more about each other and to know if they would be compatible for marriage. If things do not work out, it is easier for them to split up instead of getting a divorce.