Date of Award

6-2014

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Social Work

Department

School of Social Work

First Reader/Committee Chair

Dr. Janet Chang

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore single women’s views towards the institution of marriage. This study utilized a qualitative design. In-depth face-to-face interviews with ten unmarried women living in San Bernardino County were conducted to collect the data. Participants were asked in a structured interview to provide their views towards premarital sex, cohabitation, non-marital childbearing, divorce, and same sex marriage.This study found that women’s liberal and conservative views towards premarital sex, cohabitation, non-marital childbearing, divorce, and same sex marriage did not affect a women’s desire to enter the institution of marriage. Furthermore, the study indicated that women exhibited both liberal and conservative views, regardless of religiosity. Last, this study found that women commonly exhibited the traditional view of marrying prior to starting a family, regardless of women accepting premarital sex and cohabitation. The findings of the study suggest that social workers need to have a better understanding of the diverse views and behaviors of unmarried women. The study also recommends that social workers need to increase their awareness of unmarried women’s preferred lifestyles and to diminish the stigma associated with unmarried women. Furthermore, social workers should enhance their knowledge of micro and macro services available to unmarried women including resources in family planning and women’s health.

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