Expectations of marriage today are explored using three sources of  data; demographic trends, qualitative research and attitudinal material.  All three sources suggest there is ambiguity in the social perception  and private experience of marriage. This ambiguity reflects social  changes wh ich have occurred in recent decades; emancipation of women,  widespread divorce and the acceptance of premarital sex have all  influenced the nature of marriage and the expectations men and women  have of it. Our research findings confirm that marriage is problematic  in that the reality of married life its division of labour, the amount  of time available for the couple alone fails to meet up to many people's  aspirations. This seems particularly true for women, whose desire for  intimacy and a common life is especially difficult to achieve