Is Marriage Deinstitutionalizing? Exploring Alternative Explanations for the Shifting Boundaries of the Field of Marriage.

• In Event: 220 - Section on the Sociology of the Family Roundtables (one-hour)
  In Refereed Roundtable: Table 04. Institutionalization and De-Institutionalization of Marriage

Abstract

Background: Previous literature has posited that changes occurring to the normative attitudes and behaviors affiliated with marriage indicate that marriage is becoming deinstitutionalized. However, there is a void in the literature when it comes to empirically testing if the weakening of marital norms is related to the changing boundaries that define marriage.

Methods: A multinomial logistic regression was conducted to determine if either A) the weakened norms of marriage or B) the perceived social capital affiliated with marriage could predict attitudes toward the shifting boundaries that define marriage.

Findings: In this research, attitudes indicating the weakening of normative behaviors within marriage were not significant in predicting attitudes regarding the shifting of marital boundaries. However, there was partial evidence to suggest that individuals who associate social capital with marriage are less likely to support changes to the institution.

Conclusion: Rather than questioning how or if marriage is deinstitutionalizing, future research regarding changes in the institution may be more productive concentrating on the relationship between perceived marital capital and attitudes toward renegotiating the rules and boundaries of marriage. The work of Pierre Bourdieu provides a strong theoretical framework to guide such research.

Author

• Daniel Bartholomay, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee