Marital status behaviour of women in the former Soviet Republics

This paper uses the most recent data and life table analysis to describe the marital behavior of women in the republics of the former USSR. For the first time a multistate life table analysis was used to describe the marital careers of women from all the 15 republics. In the near future, such a comparative analysis will no longer be possible due to the unavailability of statistical data, especially in some of the Asian states. The analysis shows that despite 70 years of influence by Soviet ideology and lifestyle, the institution of marriage was little subject to rapid change, and retained its traditions for each culture and its ethnic features. Marriage was a universal institution in the former USSR. The majority of the women in all of the former republics entered marriage at least once. The mean age at first marriage varies from 20.5 in Moldavia to 22.8 in Azerbaijan. The proportion of marriages that end in divorce differs from 16% in Georgia to 41% in Latvia. On average more than 30% of divorced women remarry in Latvia and Ukraine and less than 5% in Georgia.

Religious intermarriage in Canada, 1974-1982

"This paper reviews recent literature, with particular reference to Canada, on religious intermarriage. The importance of intramarriage in the cross-generation maintenance of subcultural values is emphasized. Recent trends in religious outmarriage and the major explanations and correlates of these trends are considered. Recent data published by Statistics Canada is examined for the nine year period between 1974-1982."

[First marriage tables for Japanese males and females, 1975]

The authors present net nuptiality tables for Japanese males and females in 1975. Data are from official registers and the 1975 census. "According to the tables, 87.43 percent of newly born males and 91.21 percent of newly born females may expect to marry during their whole life." (SUMMARY IN ENG)

[In and out of wedlock. An empirical study on changing attitudes toward marriage and parenthood]

"The theory of 'individualization' offers a useful framework for understanding the present changes in partnerships, marriage, and parenthood.... This paper presents results of a 'qualitative' study which, in addition to a general trend towards individualization, reveals differences according to socio-regional milieus. These differences are reflected in four areas: cohabitation, marriage, the conflict between parenthood and career, and sex roles within partnerships.... The observed trends support the notion that the future will bring a polarization of life styles: a family-oriented and an individualized style." The geographical focus is on Germany. (SUMMARY IN ENG)

An economic consideration of same-gender marriage and fertility

"This paper is an extension of Gary Becker's economic theory on families and marriage with particular attention to same-gender marriage and family formation. Summary discussion of several concepts central to the economics of the family as they relate to same-gender family formation are considered.... First, this article will present a general discussion of marriage markets and decisions and rationales for cohabiting or marrying. Second, the economic gains to marriage for both homosexual and heterosexual couples will be examined. Third, fertility alternatives and demand for children by same-gender couples will be considered. The article concludes with a discussion of future outcomes and policy implications relating to gay and lesbian marriage and fertility." The geographical focus is on the United States.

Marriage (Amendment) Act, 1987 (No. 7 of 1987), 24 August 1987

Among other things, this Act lowers the legal age of marriage without consent for persons who are neither a widow or widower to eighteen.