Living Apart Together (LAT): A New Family Form in Urban India

Abstract

With the rise of globalisation, a considerable number of married couples are opting to live apart from each other post marriage. Several studies in the West have examined the concept of living apart together (LAT). However, this marriage arrangement has not received much attention in Indian scholarship. LAT is being adopted in both (arranged and love) forms of marriage systems in India. Against this backdrop, the present study aims to understand why this form of a marriage system is gaining prominence among educated urban couples in India. Using Anthony Giddens’s theory of pure relationships and relying on in-depth qualitative interviews, the study will highlight the formation of a new form of intimacy among couples practicing LAT. Finally, the study will demonstrate how the role of the family, changing gender norms and individual aspirations shape LAT in urban India.