Cohen sees 'symbolic effect' of same-sex unions on marriage

As the ramifications of a supreme court decision on the right of same-sex couples to marry cascade across the U.S., Anne Blythe notes that "sociologists are watching to see whether millenials . . . can make the institution (marriage) trendier," in an article in the Raleigh News & Observer.

Faculty Associate Philip Cohen, contacted for the story, said, “That’s an interesting idea – does this have a halo effect on the institution ? The number of same-sex couples that are going to marry is small so you won’t see a big bump in the marriage rate. But it could have a symbolic effect.”

"Wedded bliss remains a milestone for about 70 percent of millennials, according to Pew Research survey data," Blythe observed.

See the complete article in the News & Observer