COHABITATION

 Firstly, what’s cohabitation?

- "Cohabitation" also called "living together before marriage" are two

people who agree with each other to live together as "husband and wife",
they "get to know" together as a married couple. Well, they live together
before marriage to discover whether we are compatible with each other or
not.
Norway was described as ‘cohabitation-then-marriage land’ due to the
increasing amount of cohabitation rates. Not only is cohabitation a norm
in Norway but it is also appeared for a long time in France, Western
Europe, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands and Austria.
In Vietnam, it has just appeared since the 90s. This is considered a popular
phenomenon in Vietnam as well as in Asian countries today. This situation is
increasing in young people, especially for young people and students.

 If in the West the cohabitation is considered a step before

marriage, what is the concept of cohabitation in
Vietnam?
- Today, we will share this issue. It has both advantages and disadvantages
depending on each person's concept. For example, in young people, they consider it
fashionable because they can try to express love, share difficulties and have more time
for each other. On the other hand, the previous generation considered it a sin and was
criticized by society. You know, cohabitation is not a permanent relationship, easy
come easy go because there is no legal and religious commitment. Another reason is
that, during a trial period, they can get fed up with each other.
- Conclusion: For cohabitation in particular and life in general, we need to think
very carefully and seriously before deciding what to do. Everything has its duality, as
well as its consequences or results. Once you've chosen, don't regret it ... regret
doesn't solve the problem.

 Why do some people want and support cohabitation ?

Shaking up before saying “I do” isn’t nearly as taboo as it was a decade or two ago, but
that doesn’t mean you won’t get an earful from family members or friends. In the modern
world, Western countries are at the top of the list cohabitation. Love marriages have been
around for a long time and have come to be accepted as a normal thing. However, live-in
relationships are still seen as a scandal. So, we put together this list of many advantages or
disadvantages of a live-in relationship
1. Learning if you’re compatible
- This is probably the first benefit that came to mind when you and your partner
started thinking about moving in together: It’s really a practice run for a lifetime of
living together—without the major commitment or legal documents. Stop Selfishness
from Ruining Your Relationship. If you’re a total neat freak and your partner isn’t
quite so bothered by things piling up here and there or leaving dishes in the sink for a
few days, sharing living quarters will help you figure out how to make it work and
whether the two of you can handle it. Your lifestyle habits extend past your waking
hours, though, and living together also means learning to sleep together. You can
learn to balance and adapt to each other's sleep schedules, you can start to figure out
options for handling your differences and needs, and how this will affect your sexual
life. setting aside time for sex if you're on opposite schedules.

2. Freedom to end things if they aren’t working out

- Yes, you might break your partner’s heart or they might break your heart if one or
both of you decide it isn’t working out. You have to accept it and understand that
living together before marriage gives both of you a choice to end the relationship if
needed. While it may be a tough decision to part ways, at least you both will be at
peace knowing that you made an effort to turn your relationship into something much
more serious. It will help you move on, and find someone much more suitable for
you.
3. Marrige doesn’t seem so scary anymore

- Many marriages fail because both partners fail to gauge the seriousness of it. Or
worst case scenario, your partner develops cold feet before marriage because they
think you’re not the one for them. The universal increase in divorce rates is another
reason why marriage doesn’t really seem all that appealing anymore. However, living
together helps you both get a test-run of marriage, how actually spending the rest of
your lives with someone be. After going through that, the idea of a long-term
relationship doesn’t really seem that scary anymore.

4. Cohabitation allows you to get to know your partners better

- Live-in relationships give you all this time to spend with your partner, which you
use to discover more about each other. You get to listen to their work stories, the
funny thing that happened to their cousin that one time, or the story of how they
coped with the loss of their first grandparent. You know more about the things they
like or don’t like. You might discover that they snore if they sleep-walk, or if they
have a side of the bed. You’ll realize you barely know anything about them. That is
why cohabitation is rising these day in the Western countries.

 Why don’t some countries or Vietnam support

cohabitation ?
1. Cohabitation is not permanent relationship

- It is a short-lived and short-term relationship. Marriage is a long-lasting and durable

relationship due to the couples' strong commitment. It has been observed that most of
 cohabitations last for almost five or six years. Cohabiters are not attached to each other for a long
time. The reason is that, during the course of time, they get fed up with each other and
consequently get separated.

2. There is always uncertainly with cohabitation

- Every relationship offers a level of uncertainty which must be evaluated. Every

husband, wife, or individual decides each day in their relationship to stay or go. There
is less certainty with cohabitation because there are fewer restrictions in place to
leave. That creates less satisfaction in all aspects of life for some couples, including
their emotional and sexual connections, because the future does not offer as much
clarity. Marriage offers a potential destination and final goal, which makes the
decision to stay easier because it takes more work to just leave.

3. Those living together before marriage have more frequent disagreements, more fights
and violence.

- Those living together before marriage have more frequent disagreements, more
fights, and violence. researchers found that those who live together were more
negative and less positive when resolving a marital problem and when providing
support to their partner. They also found that husbands and wives who had lived
together before marriage were more verbally aggressive, less supportive of one
another and generally more hostile than spouses who had not lived together. Research
reports couples who live together to have more frequent disagreements, more fights,
and violence, lower levels of fairness and happiness with their relationships compared
to married people.

PHRASE
1. to get to know : to make or become acquainted with, knowledgeable
about
2. a trial period: a period of time during which someone or something is
tested.
3. to be compatible with: two things able to exist or occur together without
conflict.
4. to get fed up with: annoyed or bored with something that you feel you
have accepted for too long.
5. Cohabitation : living together before marriage
6. Express : convey (a thought or feeling) in words or by gestures and
conduct.
7. permanent : lasting or intended to last or remain unchanged indefinitely.