ABSTRACT

It is a commonplace to observe that contemporary politicians in the United States and the United Kingdom proclaim the virtues of marriage. As Reece (2003: 106) has observed: "the predominant postliberal approach is to hold up marriage as the ideal community." Thus, Berger and Kellner (1999) claim that marriage creates a framework in which people can experience their life as making sense. Waite and Gallagher (2001) assert that "Married People are Happier, Healthier and Better Off Financially". The British government (1998: paras. 4.3-4), despite cautioning that "families do not want to be lectured about their behaviour" has nevertheless asserted that "we do share the belief of the majority of people that marriage provides the most reliable framework for raising children. We are therefore proposing measures to strengthen the institution of marriage. . . ." The Bush administration's policy of "promoting marriage" is well known. Political commitment to

"support" marriage inhibits promotion of policies that may be represented as "undermining" (heterosexual) marriage, such as allowing same-sex marriage, or increasing legal recognition of unmarried cohabitation (Barlow & James 2004).