SEXUAL EXCLUSIVITY AMONG DATING, COHABITING, AND MARRIED-WOMEN

Using sexual exclusivity as an indication of commitment to a partner, we examine commitment within dating, cohabitation, and marriage, Emplo ying data from the National Survey of Women (1991), we find that cohab itation, in terms of sexual commitment, is more similar to dating than marriage, and that cohabitation, relative to marriage is selective of less committed individuals. In addition, limiting our analyses to cur rently married women, we find that the characteristics emphasized in p artner selection by those who cohabit before marriage differ from the characteristics emphasized by those who do not cohabit before marriage , and that these characteristics influence sexual exclusivity among pr ior cohabitors.