Relationship Escalator: The Expected Path From Dating to Marriage
The relationship escalator is the social expectation that romantic relationships should progress through exclusivity, cohabitation, marriage, parenthood, and lifelong commitment.
Relationship Anarchy: Autonomy, Commitment, and Nonhierarchical Bonds
Relationship anarchy is a philosophy that allows each intimate, romantic, sexual, or platonic relationship to develop through voluntary agreements rather than fixed hierarchy.