MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

An overwhelming majority of Chileans accept cohabitation before marriage

Morning after pill is considered a private decision for women

Eighty-seven percent of Chileans believe that single mothers are capable of raising children just as well as married couples or mothers with partners, according to a recent survey. Support for men as single parents is similarly strong, as 79 percent of those surveyed believe the same of single fathers.

The national survey, conducted by the Universidad Diego Portales’ Institute of Social Sciences between Sept. 11 and Sept. 30, polled more than 1,300 Chileans older than 18 on various political and social topics.

Other topics that received wide public support were cohabitation before marriage, and divorce as the best alternative when a couple has exhausted all other possible solutions.

Nearly 79 percent said it was acceptable to live with a partner before marriage, yet the ultimate intention of marriage was still important. Only 56.7 percent said it was acceptable to cohabitate with a partner without the long-term expectation of marriage.

The acceptance of couples living together before marriage declines steadily as the age of the Chileans polls grows, with only 60.7 percent of respondents older than 60 citing approval.

Divorce, which was legalized in Chile in 2004, was seen as the best option for failed marriages by more than 77 percent of respondents.

More controversial social topics, such as emergency contraception and euthanasia, received fairly strong support from the study’s participants.

Using the morning-after pill was considered by 81 percent to be a private decision for women, without interference by the Health Ministry or the Catholic Church.

Moreover, 70 percent said they agreed that terminally ill patients had the right to solicit assistance in ending their life.

Nevertheless, questions dealing with homosexuality continued to divide the population, with only 54.7 percent of Chileans surveyed saying they believed it was as valid a sexual option as any other.

Rights for gay individuals received even less support, with only 33.8 percent in favour of gay marriage, and a mere 22.5 percent supporting gay couples right to adopt.

By Alison Silveira – Santiago Times