Digital Commons Network^™

"I'Ll Leave The Back Porch Light On:" An Exploration Of The Legitimization Of Same-Gender Male Couple Members Through Marriage And Parenthood For Those With Adverse Coming Out Experiences, Devin S. Simpkins

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Reczek and Bosley-Smith (2022) identified several reasons why queer adult children reported feeling compelled to maintain relationships with their rejecting parents, and the strategies that they utilized to do so. The construct of legitimization exists within a heteronormative context, contributing to the theory that adherence to cis-heteronormative relational ideals allows same-gender couples to have a greater chance of being accepted by the dominant culture (Chevrette & Eguchi, 2020). Unintentional or deliberate aligning with idealized images of traditional (i.e., cisgender and heterosexual) couples or families is a means by which same-gender couples may seek this acceptance.

The present study sought to …

Graduate Student Paper: Aging In A Changing Japan: Gendered Adaptation To Changing Family Structure, Miki Izu, Clayton Chalmers

Asia Pacific Perspectives

Although Japanese seniors are very healthy, research shows that they are not very happy. Compared to seniors in other developed countries, Japanese elders have lower ratings of subjective well-being and are increasingly alone. This paper argues that changes to Japanese family life help explain why Japanese elders are struggling with low subjective well-being. Specifically, declining marriage rates and declining rates of elders living with their children (co-residency) have made it harder for elders to get the support they need. Moreover, the effect and the adaptations to these changes are not equal between men and women. While elderly Japanese men are …

Illness Severity And Marital Communication In Young Couples: The Moderating Role Of Marital Satisfaction, Jaime Lea Dick

Theses and Dissertations

The emergence of a chronic physical illness is unexpected in emerging adulthood and is accompanied by stress. Additionally, married partners of individuals with physical illnesses are likewise affected by the new diagnosis. Marriage outcomes of couples facing chronic illnesses together vary, being sometimes positive and sometimes negative. The current study examined the relationship between the emergence of chronic physical illness in emerging adults and marital communication of both the patient and partner, with marital satisfaction as a moderator. Gender differences are also addressed. From the Couple Relationships and Transition Experiences (CREATE) study, a nationally representative dataset of newly married emerging …

Upgrading Courses For Those Who Are About To Get Married And Their Impact On The Stability Of Married Life. Intentional Study (Al-Jouf Region), Morad Rayeq Rashid Odeh

UB Journal for Humanities

This research is concerned with studying the reality of the courses and rehabilitation programs for those who are about to get married, in Al-Jouf region, a scientific study, based on realistic statistics, and it aims to: Understand the reality of these upgrading courses in the Al-Jouf region, and clarify their importance in stabilizing marital life, and the legal purposes of such courses, and how to develop them and increase the beneficiaries of them. The scientific method of research is based on the descriptive analytical method, and the most important results of the research were: These courses are of great importance …

The Last Pulse, A.M. Wilson

Quill & Scope

No abstract provided.

The Fundamental Right To Polygynous Marriage, Ronald C. Den Otter

The Journal of Contemporary Legal Issues

This Article is about why the argument in favor of a constitutional right to polygynous marriage, predicated on the importance of personal autonomy, is considerably stronger than the sex equality arguments against it. For the most part, legal scholars have arrived late on the scene, not treating the topic with the kind of care that it deserves. Instead of relying upon equal protection analysis, I shall engage in a fundamental rights critique of opposition to polygynous marriage. In doing so, I will discuss two considerations that remain central to such analysis: the value of autonomy (understood as personal choice in …

Creating And Validating An Aphasia-Friendly Measure Of Marital Relationships: Preliminary Pilot Testing, Jasmine Espinoza

Theses and Dissertations

This study aimed to modify and validate an aphasia-friendly questionnaire that can be used to assess marital attachment for couples impacted by aphasia. Twenty participants (10 people with aphasia and their spouses) participated across two sessions. The study consisted of two phases. Phase 1 focused on modifying the Brief Accessibility, Responsiveness, and Engagement Scale (BARE) into an aphasia-friendly format through collaboration with an expert panel. Phase 2 involved piloting the revised questionnaire on participants with aphasia and their spouses along with a cognitive interview to obtain qualitative and descriptive data to assess the questionnaire's face validity and preliminary test-retest reliability …

Faith, Hope For The Culture, And Love: Exploring The Influence Of Faith And Culture On Marital Resiliency Amongst African American Christians, Alena M. Crawley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study is to describe African American Christian couples’ experiences with the influence of their faith and culture on their marital relationship. The theory guiding this study is the strengths-based perspective which was developed in the mid-1980s by Professor Charles Rapp and students from the University of Kansas as it provides context for the examination of strengths unique to a specific population and how these strengths can be utilized as a tool for improved success. Relative to this study, the researcher sought to explore the contributions of faith and culture in strengthening the marital experience for …

From Pledges To Partnership: Exploring The Lived Experiences Of Women Navigating Barriers To Intimacy, Jerah Ashley York

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative phenomenological study explores the lived experiences of married women who pledged purity before marriage, seeking to understand the barriers they encountered within their marriage. The study explores how internalized messages from purity culture have shaped participants' experiences in marriage and what challenges they faced. The main themes identified in this study include sexual intimacy challenges, communication in marriage, marital expectations versus reality, and identifying harmful beliefs and creating new positive narratives of intimacy. This study highlights the enduring problematic impact of purity culture on marital intimacy and emphasizes the importance of education, emotional support, and communication in overcoming …

Conformable Kate: Identity And Power In The Taming Of The Shrew, Helen R. Ball

The Confluence

The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare is often read as an exploration of power dynamics and abuse, leaving readers to question the extent of Katherine’s power and autonomy in her marriage to Petruchio. Some believe Katherine manages to control her husband, Petruchio, while others believe Petruchio successfully 'tames' her. This essay explores such a question and seeks to answer which character holds the most power within the play. Using textual evidence from the play, scholarship from Natasha Korda’s writing on domesticity and commodity structures in Shakespeare's time, and Gary Schneider’s ideas of the public and private sectors of …

Unmarried, Married, And Divorced People In The Mountain West, 2023, Dre Boyd-Weatherly, Caitlin J. Saladino, William E. Brown Jr.

Demography

This fact sheet presents the ratio of unmarried men to unmarried women, as well as percentage rates of single, married, and divorced people for sixteen Mountain West cities in Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, and New Mexico. The Smart Asset report, “Where Most People Are Single or Married – 2025 Study” reports data for the 119 most populous cities in the U.S. from the 2023 one-year American Community Survey conducted by U.S Census Bureau.

Women’S Mud Cloth Skirt (Bogolanfini), Abigail Jane Westhead

Department of Anthropology

The Bogolafini mud cloth is made by and for the Bamana people. This mud cloth is made to be a woman's skirt. It shows through art of the many patterns, the Bamana culture, history, folklore, values, and everyday life of the Bamana People

Beyond Stereotypes: Exploring The Intersection Of Feminist Identity And Societal Expectations In Ama Ata Aidoo’S Changes: A Love Story (1991), Grace Adutwum

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Changes: A Love Story by Ama Ata Aidoo explores the intersection of feminist identity and societal expectations of African women, specifically Ghanaian women. This work examines how Esi and other characters struggle for love, autonomy, and independence, and reveals how tradition often limits African women’s choices and agency. This research also highlights how Aidoo presents a distinct, context-specific approach to gender roles and pressure from society, rather than viewing feminism as a strict opposition to patriarchy. By using African feminism as a theoretical framework, this work analyzes how marriage, career, and independence shape Esi’s identity. The depiction of polygamy, independence, …

The 100-Year Life And The New Family Law, Naomi Cahn, Clare Huntington, Elizabeth S. Scott

Faculty Scholarship

This chapter reflects on the future of family law in an era of longer lives. Our analysis leads us to conclude that the 100-year life is indeed likely to have an impact on the nature, scope, and definition of family law, but that families will continue to function as the primary setting for intimacy and for caregiving and caretaking, whatever form those families take. Further, the importance to both individual and social welfare of family support throughout life points to a need for reform of current family law doctrine. The impact of longer life on doctrines regulating the relationship of …

Reasons For Divorce, Ryan Bennett, Lisa K. Lashley, Charles J. Golden

Essays in Developmental Psychology

Today, divorce is a common result for many couples regarding marital conflict and discord. The impacts of divorce have been linked to increased psychological distress, increased risk of substance abuse, depression, and poorer overall health when compared to non-divorced individuals (Amato, 2000; Hughes and Waite, 2009). Per Shelby Scott and colleagues, there are ten likely reasons for a couple to get divorced (Scott et al., 2013). By understanding these ten reasons, one may better conceptualize the overall factors that contribute to divorce.

I Do, And I Will: Effectual Religiosity May Strengthen The Triad Chord Of Commitment To Promote Marital Flourishing For Women Of Faith, Tamara M. Chamberlain

Theses and Dissertations

Although religiosity often associates with marital satisfaction in sociological studies, very few studies have examined religiosity strengthening marital commitment for women of faith. This study used an exemplary sample to explore how religious, heterosexual married women view religion strengthening their marital commitment. Interviews from 196 highly religious couples provided insight into the following themes and subthemes (1) personal commitment, (a) decision to marry, (b) religious beliefs and practices, and (c) requires effort and sacrifice; (2) moral commitment, (a) sexual relations before marriage, (b) promises made before God, friends, and family, and (c) fidelity and feelings about divorce; and (3) structural …

Sanctification Of Marriage And Positive Religious Coping May Help Couples Be Resilient From Stress's Negative Influence, Amanda Sue Bills

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Marriage is the building block of society and as such is an important developmental stage. Unfortunately, studies suggest that stress could be harmful to marriages. However, many resilient factors have been found to protect marriages from stress such as good communication, secure attachments, gratitude and optimism, and religion. The Bible teaches that marriage was founded by God and is a sacred institution. Further, stress should be expected in life, is useful for learning and growth, and God will help his followers to cope with it. The current quantitative study sought to discover if viewing marriage as sacred and using positive …

Lead Pastor Stress: A Quantitative Study Of The Effects On Mental Health, Marriage, Family, And The Church, Sherri Lee Bergeron

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The church’s lead pastor has many roles and responsibilities, from teaching the Word of the Lord, baptisms, counseling sessions, and leading a staff. These are not the lead pastor’s only role; the majority also have a family, children, and a spouse at home who also need their attention. A balance must be considered between the ministry, family, and marriage. If this balance is off or the pastor becomes overwhelmed with any or all the three, their mental health may suffer and can cause depression and anxiety if not dealt with appropriately (Christianity Today, 2022). Lead pastors, while in ministry, have …

Angus Firth Vikaiik’It, Leslie Mccartney, Mary Martha Firth

Faculty

No abstract provided.

Analysis Of The Tennessee Covenant Marriage, Lucy C. Spivey

SPARK Symposium Presentations

Most recent data from the World Population Review suggests that Tennessee’s divorce rate (3.3% per 1,000 people) is among the highest divorce rates in the country (2024). Although the country and state average rate has decreased in the past five years, many Tennesseans are concerned at the number of failed marriages. House Bill 0315, introduced by Republican Representative Gino Bulso, is a result of this growing concern. House Bill 0315, better known as the “Tennessee Covenant Marriage Act,” aims to strengthen Tennessee marriages by limiting divorce options for couples and requiring a premarital counseling course (Jenkins, 2025). Proponents of this …

Social Gaps & Urban Divides: How Social Factors Shape Economic Disadvantage In American Cities, Parker J. Peterson, Ruth Kerry

FHSS Mentored Research Conference

This research examines the relationship between nonmarriage, education, and socioeconomic disadvantage across census tracts in Boston, Los Angeles, and Salt Lake City. Statistical analyses reveal significant differences in never-married proportions between cities, with strong correlations between nonmarriage and community disadvantage. Even when controlling for other factors, nonmarriage remains a significant predictor of disadvantage, though spatial regression shows education is the strongest predictor in Boston.

Woman-To-Woman Marriage In West Africa: A Vanishing Tradition Of Power And Agency, Bright Alozie

Black Studies Faculty Publications and Presentations

In lieu of an abstract, here is an excerpt: Marriage in west Africa has played a central role in shaping aspects of society, and has evolved over time. While traditional heterosexual unions dominate discussions, a lesser-known but significant practice – woman-to-woman marriage – has existed for centuries. In my research, I examined this institution, which allows a woman to assume the role of a husband by marrying another woman. There’s evidence of woman-to-woman marriage in more than 40 societies across west Africa, including the Igbo of Nigeria, the Frafra of Ghana and the Dahomeans of present-day Benin.

A Marriage By Any Other Sign: Social Signification In The Way Of The World, Alyssa Alexander

Spring Showcase for Research and Creative Inquiry

This paper analyzes William Congreve’s The Way of the World through the lens of Derrida’s theory of différance, arguing that the play destabilizes the fixed social categories of marriage and identity through linguistic performance. While many critics read Congreve’s portrayal of marriage as either reinforcing or satirizing Restoration social structures, this analysis emphasizes how language itself resists fixed meaning. Drawing on key scenes between Mirabell and Millamant, Waitwell’s reflections on autonomy, and Fainall’s contradictory claims of masculine selfhood, the paper demonstrates how the signs “husband,” “wife,” and “man” shift and defer meaning rather than affirm static roles. Characters do not …

Choosing The Ideal Husband From A Girl's Perspective: The Case Of University Students In Jordan, Nesreen Attieh, Haya Tarawneh

Jordan Journal of Applied Science-Humanities Series

The study aims to identify the factors and reasons that influence the decision to choose an ideal husband from the perspective of university students. A descriptive approach was applied in this research, and a questionnaire was developed as the primary tool for data collection. The questionnaire included general characteristics of the study sample and 16 items. Additionally, a non-probability convenience sample of 100 undergraduate students from the University of Jordan was selected. The results revealed that the largest percentage of the study sample had an average economic income, with many participants residing in Amman and Fuhais. Regarding the importance of …

Short Duration Relationship And Marriage Education (Rme) During Covid-19: Outcomes And Future Directions, Pamela B. Payne, Naomi Brower, Melanie Jewkes

Transforming Communities

Abstract

COVID-19 reshaped short duration relationship marriage education (RME), requiring that previously in person programs, including the Utah Marriage Celebration (UMC) move to remote formats. It is critical that outcomes of such transitions are evaluated and assessed. Marriage Celebration 2021 included 348 participants who responded after participating in the virtual event and 148 participants who responded to a one month follow up. Results indicate that like prior Marriage Celebration events, participants indicated their perceived relationship knowledge increased. Commitment to change was evaluated for the first time and showed significant results related to age and issues being covered. Implications for RME …

Beyond Marvin V. Marvin: How Washington Leads The Way In Protecting Unmarried Cohabitants, Karen Boxx, Terry Price, Joseph Janes

Washington Law Review

“Wholly unrelated to . . . marriage, courts have recognized the existence of meretricious relationships, which this court has determined to be stable, cohabiting relationships.”1 In the nearly twenty-five years since Pennington, Washington courts have developed a robust jurisprudence regarding these relationships, now called committed intimate relationships (CIRs). The equitable doctrine developed by Washington courts is groundbreaking in recognizing property rights of persons in unmarried relationships, particularly in light of the demise of common law marriage. As of 2019, more than seventeen million people, representing seven percent of American adults, were cohabitating, but economic protection of those cohabitants varies significantly …

Property Problems In The New Non-Marriage: Inheritance, Eliot Tracz

American University Journal of Gender, Social Policy & the Law

Marriage equality has been a hotly contested topic for many years, in both the court of public opinion and in courts of law. Major Supreme Court cases have found that marriage is a fundamental right, yet issues such as marriage outside of one’s race or to a person of the same gender have still been topics of litigation. At times, the very definition of marriage has been at issue, but throughout all of this litigation, courts have consistently defined marriage as a relationship between two people.

The Racial History Of Marital Privilege, Jessica Dixon Weaver

Faculty Journal Articles and Book Chapters

Serena Mayeri’s Marital Privilege: Marriage, Inequality, and the Transformation of American Law unearths forgotten racial and political battles centered on establishing equal benefits and opportunities for unmarried parents and couples. It is the first book that grapples with the racial motivations of the late twentieth-century United States government withdrawal or manipulation of a host of laws that center the normative White, married, heterosexual couple. Marital Privilege emphasizes how both federal and state governments marginalize poor people to limited spaces within a weak economic safety net, often leaving families at the intersection of poverty and race unable to take advantage of …

Formal Victories And Roads Not Taken: Excavating Departures And Throughlines In Challenges To The Place Of Marriage, Linda C. Mcclain

Faculty Scholarship

A decade after Obergefell, Professor Mayeri’s fascinating and meticulously detailed new book, Marital Privilege: Marriage, Inequality, and the Transformation of American Law, tells the stories of “marriage’s challengers,”from the 1960s to the beginning of the twenty-first century.¹⁶ Along with the stories of some “well-known” lawyers, advocates, and scholars, Mayeri also “rescu[es]” the stories of now “obscure” Americans who “pushed marital boundaries” to protect their parental rights, their careers, or their “freedom to make decisions about their bodies and families.”¹⁷ Such rescue allows readers to “see change as a bottom-up as well as a top-down process.”¹⁸ Mayeri …

Relationship Partners’ Experiences Of Managing Conflict With Individualist And Collectivist Cultural Perspectives: A Reflexive Thematic Analysis, Rebecca Alithia Payan

Department of Conflict Resolution Studies Theses and Dissertations

In the United States, the increasing number of multicultural marriages leads to the individualistic traditional American nuclear family colliding with ideals from a collective culture. This conflict over individualistic and collective nature can lead to martial conflict, including divorce. In this context, this study seeks to answer an important question: How do relationship partners experience managing conflict, considering individualist and collectivist perspectives in the United States? The methodology utilized the Medium-Q of Reflexive Thematic Analysis of data gathered from qualitative open-ended interview questions and a brief survey. Findings reveal engaging themes, leading us to understand that individualism and collectivism influence …