Since the 1950's, society's views on conjugal relationship free love and common-law relationships have progressed tremendously. The women's revolution and the sexual revolution contributed greatly to the shift in society's perspective, yet traditional outlooks on conjugal relationships and expected behaviours still exist among the general population.
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Today's young singles find themselves with significantly more freedom than their parents and grandparents had when it comes to dating and starting families of their own. For some, the increase in acceptance of different family structures has not phased them into going against traditional ways, yet others have taken advantage of the situation and have found themselves in many different non-conventional family situations. Common-law marriages are becoming more and more popular among the younger population (statscan.ca). In addition, more of these couples are making the decision to have a child(s) before they married, with or without intentions of marrying (statscan.ca). Sometimes and individual may decide to have a child with someone they're not in a relationship with, or this happens accidentally. Over the past few years there has also been an incline in single parent families and homosexual families, invitro fertilisation being one contributing factor (statscan.ca). .
Traditional expectations for relationships and families are very limited. For a young individual, he/she is expected to date a member of the opposite sex for a significant amount of time, move in together, then start a family of their own with children. At the present day, expected behaviours are much more relaxed. The young single is expected to date, participate in few or many relationships and possibly co-habitate with one or more of these partners to determine compatibility for marriage. Nowadays the main expectation before starting a family is education and a steady job rather than marriage.
