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Homogamy Unmodified
Article first published online: 14 FEB 2011
DOI: 10.1111/j.1756-2589.2010.00080.x
Copyright 2011 by the National Council on Family Relations
Additional Information
How to Cite
Cohen, P. N. (2011), Homogamy Unmodified. Journal of Family Theory & Review, 3: 47–51. doi: 10.1111/j.1756-2589.2010.00080.x
Publication History
- Issue published online: 14 FEB 2011
- Article first published online: 14 FEB 2011
- Abstract
- Article
- References
- Cited By
Keywords:
- family demography;
- family theory;
- marriage;
- sexual orientation
I propose that homogamy and heterogamy be used to signify same-sex and opposite-sex unions, respectively, including marriage and cohabitation. This is intended to address a terminology impasse that has given us marriage versus same-sex marriage in popular and academic usage. After a brief review of the word origins and scholarly uses of these terms, I conclude that the new uses for homogamy and heterogamy could be adopted relatively easily, with scientific benefits for categorization, and could remove a conservative bias in the current usage.