ABSTRACT
In 1972, Jessie Bernard, a sociologist, predicted that the future of marriage would be a range of possible marriages. Anything would be possible, she wrote. Traditional marriages would continue, but they would exist alongside marriages, which included:
• No children • More than two spouses • Open sexual relationships • A “free-wheeling” emphasis on spouses’ individuality and independence, including partial commitment, maintaining separate households, and having “weekend marriages.” • “Temporary permanent” relationships, in which couples would outline how long the marriage would last and opt for an extension if desired.
