Cohabitation and non-marital childbearing in Australia and the UK: Qualitative insights from focus groups

This paper uses evidence from focus groups to identify and explain similarities and differences in the perceived role that cohabitation plays in the family formation process in the UK and Australia. Specifically we focus on differences in perceived barriers towards marriage, attitudes towards cohabitation as a setting for childbearing and knowledge and understanding of laws relating to cohabiting couple families. The two country analysis form part of a wider comparative project, led by Perelli-Harris, within which researchers have conducted focus group interviews in ten different developed countries. In each country the same interview guide was used with the aim of comparing cross-nationally the meaning of cohabitation and marriage. Australia and the UK are two English-speaking nations with broadly similar demographics in terms of post-war changes in fertility and family formation characterised by the postponement of marriage and childbearing, an increase in non-marital cohabitation and non-marital childbearing. There are however important differences in the legal position of cohabitors. We investigate whether these differences lead to alternative perceptions as to the acceptability of cohabitation as a setting for childbearing and differential knowledge of the law regarding married and cohabiting couples in the two countries.