Mini Ethnography Report: Cohabitation Practice in Quebec City, Canada

This report presents a mini-ethnography exploring cohabitation practices within the population of Quebec City, Canada. The study investigates the factors influencing couples to choose cohabitation over legal marriage, focusing on economic stability, mental well-being, and educational qualifications. Utilizing participant observation and open-ended interviews, the research identifies both the benefits and disadvantages of cohabitation, including lower costs, reduced psychological turmoil during separation, and potential for population control. However, the report also highlights the increased vulnerability of cohabitating relationships, including higher rates of spousal abuse and instability due to economic shifts. The findings suggest that while cohabitation offers certain advantages, particularly in terms of financial and emotional flexibility, it also presents challenges that may impact the stability of the family unit and other societal institutions. The report concludes with a personal reflection, acknowledging the complex interplay of factors that shape the practice and its effects on the community.

Running head: MINI ETHNOGRAPHY
Cohabitation Practice among the Population of Quebec City
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author’s Note

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Executive Summary
Cohabitation practice came under focus due to the recent growth among the population of
Canada. A number of factors have direct or indirect impact in shaping the perception of the
practitioners of this practice. Moreover, this practice of the Canadian society has both
benefits and drawback and have direct impact on the institutions of society. This report
identifies these factors within the community of Quebec City of Canada. The results identify
the factors perceived by the population under study that led them to consider cohabitation
over the legal marriage. Moreover, it also communicates the adverse effect it might bring on
the institutions of the society starting from family.

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Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................3
Statement of the problem........................................................................................................3
Goal............................................................................................................................................3
Research Questions....................................................................................................................3
Research Methodology...............................................................................................................3
Cohabitation Practice.................................................................................................................4
Personal Experience...................................................................................................................5
Summary....................................................................................................................................6
References..................................................................................................................................7

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Introduction
Cohabitation is considered as an old cultural practice that has recently grew among
Canadian population (Esteve and Lesthaeghe 2016). The common-law of the nation legally
allows the couples living together in a single dwelling similar to the married couples. There
are certain benefits and disadvantages found in in the practice of cohabitation (Laplante
2014). Moreover, a number of social factors influence significant increase of the practice in
recent decades.
Statement of the problem
This report is to identify the factors play part in the rise of cohabitation and the
benefits and disadvantages of the practice among the Canadian population living in 67e and
68e Rue E of Quebec City of Canada.
Goal
The research seeks to formulate in-depth idea about the practice of cohabitation and
the rise in the recent years. It further seeks the answers for the reason couple choosing
cohabitation over marriage and the benefits and disadvantage they enjoy.
Research Questions
 What are the factors influencing the cohabitation practice of the selected population?
 What are the benefits and disadvantages of cohabitation over marriage perceived by
the practitioners?
Research Methodology
This ethnographic research is based on the qualitative data collected from the field.
Hence, qualitative data collection methods utilised for the data collection are as follows:
 Participant observation

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 Open-ended interview
 Sampling
Probabilistic random sampling method is utilised for identifying the population as it
provides the unbiased data (Levy and Lemeshow 2013). The community selected in the
inhibitors of 67e and 68e Rue E of Quebec City, Canada.
The data has been collected using both the participant observation and open-ended
interview. Participant observation was useful in identifying the benefits and disadvantages
enjoyed by the couples cohabiting instead of each other marrying (Guest, Namey and
Mitchell 2013).
Open-ended interview on the other hand helped in identifying the perception held by
the couple cohabiting (Brinkmann 2014). Data related to the detail of the practice is obtained
using this method.
Acceptance was a great issue as a large number of the inhabitants denied from
supporting and providing the details of the practice (Chan 2013). Moreover, being middle-
income group demanded the participation of both the individual of the cohabitation families
in economic activities. This reduced the chances of obtaining data form certain families in the
community under study.
The rejection of cooperation reflects social stress of the family members that leads to
the assumption of unhealthy family lives.
Cohabitation Practice
Data collected from the field reveals that the practice of cohabitation was present in
the province of Canada in late 20th century. However, the number of practitioner has
considerably increased during the past few decades.

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The practice of cohabitation allows the couple of same or different sex to cohabit
similarly as a married couple under the common law of Canada. The couple may or may not
have to take legal documentation of the cohabitation; however, the couples prefer to take
legal steps for cohabitation for the purpose of legal safety during the separation if occurs.
A number of factors plays significant role in influencing the couples selecting
cohabitation over marriage. One of the primary factors highlighted by the key informants is
the economic stability. The cost incurred in the cohabitation is less than that of legal
marriage. This can be the reason for the lower and middle economic group with economic
instability of the population for preferring cohabitation. Moreover, the cost incurred during
separation is also low compared to the divorce.
The second factor that can be prioritised is the mental well-being of the couple. Many
of the respondents highlighted the psychological turmoil one has to face during divorce.
Cohabitation practice eliminates the issue faced by the married couples.
The educational qualification of the practitioners is considerably low. The greater
number of the practitioners with lower educational qualification leads to the conclusion that
the popularity of the practice is prevailed among this particular segment.
Another beneficial factor that can be evidenced within the practice is the low
offspring rate. This contributes in the population control of the country.
However, the flawed side of the practice identifies higher level of spousal abuse
among the practitioners. Daily family issues are evidenced among the families practicing
cohabitation in the selected population. This can be attributed to the easy separation and less
legal restrictions posed in this practice.
Vulnerability of the bonding is a significant character of this practice and highly
affected by the shift in the economic condition of the family.

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Personal Experience
I personally considered cohabitation practice as a flawed practice of the society that
only destabilise the basic structure of the society. As family being the basic unit of the society
and culture and marriage is a vital supporter in the formation of family, the cohabitation
practice has adverse effect on the cultural well-being. However, this research helped me in
exploring the beneficial sides of the practice. This has leaded me to change my way of
thinking as it contributes in solving various problems of the society. The primary contribution
of the practice is in solving economic problems of the family. Secondly, it helps in
controlling the population of the society. However, my initial perception of the practice is
also present. The practice allows the couples easy separation, which ultimately contribute in
devolvement of the family. Hence, this contributes in disturbing the basic unit of the society
that has direct effect in modifying the other institutions of the society.
Summary
Possible conclusion of the research identifies both the benefits and disadvantage of
the practice. The easy separation, low offspring, less dispute at the time of separation is some
of the benefits enjoyed by the couples living in cohabitation bond. Moreover, the less
commitment to the family due to cohabitation allows the couples to separate without under
going psychological turmoil. Easy separation process enables the couple enjoy happy lives
without bearing the pain of commitment. On the other hand, it is evidenced in the report that
the rate of family issues occur within the family is considerably higher compared to the
married families. This is derived from the evidence of frequent spousal abuse. Moreover, the
cohabitation practice is more vulnerable to the changes in economic circumstance of the
family. These benefits can be considered as the determinants of the practice among the young
couples of the community. The expenses incurred due to the cohabitation is lesser compared

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to marriage, which is also another important determinant of the practice that leads mostly the
lower and middle economic groups to engage in the practice.

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References
Brinkmann, S., 2014. Interview. In Encyclopedia of Critical Psychology (pp. 1008-1010).
Springer New York.
Chan, J., 2013. Ethnography as practice: Is validity an issue. Current Issues Crim. Just., 25,
p.503.
Esteve, A. and Lesthaeghe, R.J. eds., 2016. Cohabitation and Marriage in the Americas:
Geo-historical Legacies and New Trends. Springer.
Guest, G., Namey, E.E. and Mitchell, M.L., 2013. Participant observation. Collecting
qualitative data. A field manual for applied research, pp.75-112.
Laplante, B., 2014. Normative groups: The rise of the formation of the first union through
cohabitation in Quebec, a comparative approach. Population Research and Policy
Review, 33(2), pp.257-285.
Levy, P.S. and Lemeshow, S., 2013. Sampling of populations: methods and applications.
John Wiley & Sons.