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How do we define an intimate partnership and what role does it play in society? At the turn of the 20th Century socially sanctioned intimate partnerships existed primarily in the context of marriage between a man and a woman. These partnerships formed the center of family units and provided a foundation of social stability for the individuals that entered them. Since then, additional forms of intimate partnerships have become more widely accepted through dating and cohabitation, while marriage has become less stable. In this course, we will explore the evolution of marriage as the dominant type of intimate partnership in society and the concurrent rise of dating, cohabitation, and divorce. Using the context of how these intimate partnerships have changed in recent decades, students will explore and define the role these different types of partnerships serve in society today.