Among all racial/ ethnic groups the Sex Ratio of Killing (SROK) is highest among common-law partners. We ask ourselves what about common-law or cohabitating relationships that makes them riskier, especially for men, compared to marital relationships? One major difference between common-law relationships and marital relationships is the level of commitment defined by the legal recognition of the relationships. Husband and wife marriages are recognized through a legal contract, typically a marriage license obtained through the courthouse. The marriage license creates stability and ensures a higher level of commitment for both partners. Alternatively, common-law relationships do not have this legal binging contract through the courthouse and it can cause instability and conflict with the absence of the high level of commitment.
Common-law relationships might increase risks, especially for women. In most common-law relationships there is no legal contract to protect the rights of each partner. This can cause turmoil with the individual’s property, finances, custody of children, etc., which can increase the risk of intimate violence. Common-law marriages do not require the same level of commitment that legally recognized marriages have, which can lead to separation or violence when conflict arises. Common-law couples can experience more financial stress since they cannot have some of the same benefits that married couples have. Common-law relationships can be viewed as not a serious commitment or love for one another. This societal view can cause strain on the couple increasing the risk of more conflict. These factors can negatively affect either the CL husband or CL wife but the data shows that women tend
to be at a higher risk, as the SROK values show. This can be due to the way that the different sexes deal with problems, power dynamics within the relationship, or even the conflicts specific to the couple. The chart shows that common-law relationships, those without a legally binding contract, tend to have higher risks for intimate partner violence.
