In this section of the course, we discussed a copious amount of topics and their importance to society. In chapter 7 of Seccombe’s Families and Their Social Worlds, we discussed courtship, intimacy, and partnering. In class, we talked about gender differences, sexual orientation, cohabitation, and the issue of sexually transmitted disease. Chapter 8 delves into the topic of marriage, and how it is seen as not only a personal relationship, but a social institution. We discussed how something so universal as marriage can have different meanings in different parts of the world, how the idea of marriage is rapidly changing, and the benefits to a marriage, such as physical and metal health, as well as economic advantages and social support. Becoming