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Data from the "Negotiating the Life Course" project, a national survey conducted in Australia in 1996/97, is used to examine domestic labor patterns amongst de facto and married men and women. I also assess the impact of a prior period of cohabitation on domestic labor patterns after marriage. The results show that women spend more time on housework and do a greater proportion of housework than men regardless of marital status. However, the patterns are most traditional amongst married men and women. Women in de facto relationships spend less time doing housework and do a smaller proportion of regular indoor activities than married women. Men in de facto relationships do a larger proportion of regular indoor activities and a lower proportion of traditional male outdoor tasks than married men. The data also show that couples who have cohabited prior to marriage have more egalitarian divisions of labor than those who have not cohabited prior to marriage. The paper concludes by arguing that the institution of marriage is significant for maintaining traditional gender patterns and that the "incompleteness" of the de facto relationship provides a period of relative freedom in which to negotiate more equal roles.

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Pathways through the life course have changed considerably in recent decades.  Many of our assumptions about leaving home, starting new relationships and having children have been turned upside down. It is now almost as common to have children prior to marriage as afterwards, and certainly much more common to live together before marrying than to marry without first living together. Women are more likely to remain in the labour force after having children and many families struggle with problems of work-family balance at some stage in their lives, particularly when they have young children. But how much has really changed? Is there really more diversity in how individuals transition through these life course stages, or just variations at the margin with most people following a standard work and family life course? This volume makes use of rich longitudinal data from a unique Australian project to examine these issues. Drawing on broader theories of social change and demographic transitions in an international context, each chapter provides a detailed empirical assessment of the ways in which Australian adults negotiate their work and family lives. In doing so, the volume provides important insight into the ways in which recent demographic, social and economic changes both challenge and reproduce gender divisions.

Quality of life -- Longitudinal studies. --- Quality of life -- Research -- Cross-cultural studies. --- Quality of life -- Research -- Methodology. --- Quality of life -- Statistical methods. --- Social change -- Longitudinal studies. --- Sociology & Social History --- Social Welfare & Social Work --- Social Sciences --- Social Change --- Child & Youth Development --- Social Conditions --- Life cycle, Human. --- Developmental psychology. --- Conduct of life. --- Ethics, Practical --- Morals --- Personal conduct --- Development (Psychology) --- Human life cycle --- Life stages, Human --- Lifecycle, Human --- Social sciences. --- Sociology. --- Demography. --- Families. --- Families --- Social Sciences. --- Sociology, general. --- Family. --- Social aspects. --- Human growth --- Life cycles (Biology) --- Maturation (Psychology) --- Developmental psychology --- Developmental psychobiology --- Psychology --- Life cycle, Human --- Ethics --- Philosophical counseling --- Historical demography --- Social sciences --- Population --- Vital statistics --- Families—Social aspects. --- Family --- Family life --- Family relationships --- Family structure --- Relationships, Family --- Structure, Family --- Social institutions --- Birth order --- Domestic relations --- Home --- Households --- Kinship --- Marriage --- Matriarchy --- Parenthood --- Patriarchy --- Social theory --- Social aspects --- Social conditions --- Social change - Longitudinal studies --- Quality of life - Longitudinal studies --- Social change --- Quality of life

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This open access book examines how families and other social institutions interact to shape outcomes over the life course. It considers how to use research evidence to reduce social disadvantage through translation of evidence to support public policies and programs. The chapters focus on key life course stages such as early child development, adolescence, emerging adulthood, parenting, marriage, relationships and ageing, as well as examining experiences and outcomes for selected social groups such as Indigenous children, migrants and refugees, and gay, lesbian and bisexual groups. The book presents evidence using high-quality and recent data. With a focus on Australia, the volume provides new insights into how context shapes life course pathways and outcomes and a contrast to work that typically focuses on Europe and the United States. It will be of value to anyone interested in understanding how family background and life course pathways influence social disadvantage.

Life cycle, Human. --- Sociology. --- Social groups. --- Life Course. --- Sociology of Family, Youth and Aging. --- Association --- Group dynamics --- Groups, Social --- Associations, institutions, etc. --- Social participation --- Social theory --- Social sciences --- Human life cycle --- Life stages, Human --- Lifecycle, Human --- Human growth --- Life cycles (Biology) --- Maturation (Psychology) --- Developmental psychology --- Family dynamics in Australia --- Life course transitions in Australia --- Gender inequality in Australia --- Child development in Australia --- Parenting practices and outcomes in Australia --- Families, relationships and wellbeing --- Social and economic inequality --- Families and social disadvantage --- Refugee and culturally diverse families --- LGBTIQ+ families --- Life course and labour market participation --- Ageing and loneliness in the life course --- Social policy on families in Australia --- Emerging directions in life course research --- Life course and education --- Life course and Indigenous families