ABSTRACT
The purpose of this chapter is to review same-sex marriage in Canada since its legalization in 2005. I begin by highlighting some essential social and political differences between Canada and the US, followed by a brief history of the politics and policies regarding same-sex marriage in Canada. I then argue that given the contentious debate about the meaning of marriage for same-sex couples, symbolic interactionism's definition of the situation, among other constructs such as Badgett's cause-and-effect model, can be used profitably to study the uptake of same-sex marriage in Canada. I draw on census data, vital statistics, and published research from Canada and elsewhere to examine the experience of same-sex marriage in Canada. I explore several factors (e.g., gender, cohort, region) that distinguish between Canadian same-sex couples who marry (33%) and those who do not (67%). I conclude with suggestions for future research directions on same-sex marriage in Canada.
