Partnership, Family, Parenthood in the Narratives of Unregistered Couples

Abstract

Changes in family and marriage have led to the emergence of new family practices and the expansion of the concept of family. In particular, close intimate relationships go beyond registered marriage. Thus, in Russia, more and more couples do not register their relationship. Besides, not only heterosexual but also homosexual partnerships claim inclusion in the category of family. In this context, the criterion for self-identification of a person/couple has begun to play an increasingly important role for recognizing relations as 'family', while the usual criteria (registration, children) are becoming insufficient. As a result, in the framework of a long public discussion about the place in the family field of new forms of marriage, the question of how homosexual and heterosexual unregistered couples self-identify arises. Based on an analysis of interviews with unregistered heterosexual and homosexual
people (N = 22) conducted in Nizhny Novgorod during 2015–2016, the study reveals the motives behind creating a couple, perception relations and status in the family sphere, marriage and reproductive attitudes of partners, and the distribution of functions in couples. The results identify both specific and common features of alliances with different sexual orientations. On the one hand, in both types of unions we can see an orientation toward forming a stable relationship, a desire to give birth / bring up children, and become a family. On the other hand, the possibilities of same-sex unions are limited by lack of institutional support in Russia. In these conditions, marriage acquires special value for homosexual couples. Forming the basis for social and psychological security, registration of relationships becomes an opportunity to prove to others their worthiness. For heterosexual unions, registration and childbirth is a free choice.