Peer Marriage

Today's couples insist on equality in most aspects of their marriages. Based on probing in-depth interviews with more than 100 couples, this book uncovers the hidden pitfalls, the drastic changes, and the unsuspected and astonishing rewards experienced by truly equal partners in these new marital relationships. Sociologist Pepper Schwartz demonstrates the deep friendship between married peers, the care needed when introducing children into such friendships and the disturbing frequency with which peer marriage actually undermines couples' sex lives. And she alerts couples to the danger of preaching equality while failing to practice it, which causes more problems than it solves. Throughout, the author shows peer couples how, with careful consideration of all aspects of their marriage, they can fulfil the unprecedented promise of equality.