Assortative matching among same-sex and different-sex couples in the United States, 1990-2000

Christine Schwartz and Nikki Graf
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Christine Schwartz: University of Wisconsin–Madison
Nikki Graf: University of Wisconsin–Madison

Demographic Research, 2009, vol. 21, issue 28, 843-878

Abstract: Same-sex couples are less likely to be homogamous than different-sex couples on a variety of characteristics, including race/ethnicity, age, and education. This study confirms results from previous studies using 1990 U.S. census data and extends previous analyses to examine changes from 1990 to 2000. We find that same-sex male couples are generally the least likely to resemble one another, followed by same-sex female couples, different-sex cohabitors, and different-sex married couples. Despite estimated growth in the numbers of same-sex couples in the population and the increasing acceptance of non-traditional unions, we find little evidence of diminishing differences in the resemblance of same- and different-sex couples between 1990 and 2000, with the possible exception of educational homogamy.

Keywords: assortative mating; same-sex couples; interracial unions (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J1 Z0 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2009
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (24)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:dem:demres:v:21:y:2009:i:28

DOI: 10.4054/DemRes.2009.21.28

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