In this first comparative ethnographic look at the global transformation towards a marital ideal characterized by emotional intimacy, companionship, and mutual choice - known as

companionate marriage

Modern Loves
asks how this shift is occuring, exploring the factors that both promote and hinder it, who is pushing for these more companionate relationships, and what advantages men and women see in modern love. The contributors analyze the intricate negotiations surrounding love, marriage, and sex in Mexico, India, Papua New Guinea, Brazil, Pakistan, Nigeria, and Singapore, and among Latina youth in Los Angeles.