Why do people live apart together?

Phillips, Miranda; Roseneil, Sasha; Stoilova, Mariya; Duncan, Simon; Carter, Julia

Abstract

© The authors 2013. Interpretations of living apart together (LAT) have typically counter-posed 'new family form' versus 'continuist' perspectives. Recent surveys, however, construct LAT as a heterogeneous category that supports a 'qualified continuist' position - most people live apart as a response to practical circumstances or as a modern version of 'boy/girlfriend', although a minority represents something new in preferring to live apart more permanently. This article interrogates this conclusion by examining in depth why people live apart together, using a nationally representative survey from Britain and interview accounts from 2011. Our analysis shows that LAT as a category contains different sorts of relationship, with different needs and desires. While overall coupledom remains pivotal and cohabitation remains the goal for most, LAT allows people flexibility and room to manoeuvre in adapting couple intimacy to the demands of contemporary life. Hence, we suggest, LAT is both 'new' and a 'continuation'.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jan 1, 2013
• Online Publication Date: Nov 1, 2013
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2013
• Deposit Date: Apr 23, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 23, 2018
• Journal: Families, Relationships and Societies
• Print ISSN: 2046-7435
• Electronic ISSN: 2046-7443
• Publisher: Policy Press
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 2
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 323-338
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1332/204674313X673419
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/931170
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1332/204674313X673419
• Contract Date: Apr 23, 2018