What do you think?
Rate this book
Marriage Material: How an Enduring Institution Is Changing Same-Sex Relationships
A cutting-edge study of marriage’s transformative effects on same-sex relationships.
It is no secret that marriage rates in the United States are at an all-time low. Despite this significant decline, the institution of marriage endures in our society amid historic changes to its meaning and practice. How does the continuing strength of marriage impact the relationships of same-sex couples after the legalization of same-sex marriage?
Drawing on over one hundred interviews with LGBTQ+ people, Marriage Material reveals the transformative impact marriage equality has had on same-sex relationships. Sociologist Abigail Ocobock looks to same-sex couples across a wide age range to illuminate the complex ways institutional mechanisms work in tandem to govern the choices and behaviors of individuals with different marriage experiences. Ocobock examines both the influence of marriage on the dynamics of same-sex relationships and how LGBTQ+ people challenge heteronormative assumptions about marriage, highlighting the complex interplay between institutional constraint and individual agency.
Marriage Material presents a bold challenge to dominant scholarly and popular ideas about the decline of marriage, making clear that gaining access to legal marriage has transformed same-sex relationships, both for better and for worse.
It is no secret that marriage rates in the United States are at an all-time low. Despite this significant decline, the institution of marriage endures in our society amid historic changes to its meaning and practice. How does the continuing strength of marriage impact the relationships of same-sex couples after the legalization of same-sex marriage?
Drawing on over one hundred interviews with LGBTQ+ people, Marriage Material reveals the transformative impact marriage equality has had on same-sex relationships. Sociologist Abigail Ocobock looks to same-sex couples across a wide age range to illuminate the complex ways institutional mechanisms work in tandem to govern the choices and behaviors of individuals with different marriage experiences. Ocobock examines both the influence of marriage on the dynamics of same-sex relationships and how LGBTQ+ people challenge heteronormative assumptions about marriage, highlighting the complex interplay between institutional constraint and individual agency.
Marriage Material presents a bold challenge to dominant scholarly and popular ideas about the decline of marriage, making clear that gaining access to legal marriage has transformed same-sex relationships, both for better and for worse.
270 pages, Paperback
Published November 20, 2024
1 person is currently reading
13 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
February 3, 2025
sociology and queerness!
February 5, 2025
another fantastic choice for class
May 19, 2025
A solid study of marriage as an institution and how LGBQ marriage largely upholds rather than undermines that institution. The marriage advocates likely will be pleased so long as they’re not homophobic. The book certainly does a great job making you question what you think about marriage and weddings and monogamy.
I’m still very curious how these results may have changed if there had been more 1) class/SES variety and 2) more POC (it’s really an alarmingly white sample). But I suppose that is for the next scholar to explore.
I’m still very curious how these results may have changed if there had been more 1) class/SES variety and 2) more POC (it’s really an alarmingly white sample). But I suppose that is for the next scholar to explore.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews