Consensual Unions In Two Costa Rican Communities: An Analysis Using Focus Group Methodology

Abstract

This study uses focus groups to explore the nature of consensual unions and the relationship between union type and fertility in Costa Rica. Participants, both men and women, were drawn from two communities, La Cruz in the province of Guanacaste, and Cahuita, in the province of Limon. I hypothesize that women’s status, reflecting gender differences in power distribution, is an important determinant of the type of union chosen. Women with a weaker “bargaining position” in their relationships with men (reflected in their socioeconomic status, children from previous unions, age, etc.) are more likely to enter consensual than legal unions, which offer less legal and financial protection. The weaker “bargaining position” of women in consensual unions in turn is likely to affect the “marital relationship" so that women in consensual unions may have less say in fertility decisions than their partners. The results show that while most respondents state that there are no differences between union types in terms of family obligations and responsibilities, women are nevertheless aware that consensual unions may end up providing them with little legal or financial support, and that they and their children risk being left on their own. The greater instability of the consensual union influences fertility in that women appear to use children to create a securer bond within such unions. Further work in this area would benefit from more research into the cultural context within which decisions regarding union formation are made and the constraints on union choice.