The age of Roman Girls at Marriage: Some Reconsiderations

1987 ◽  
Vol 77 ◽  
pp. 28-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brent D. Shaw

The age at which girls tend to marry is one of the most important factors in determining the overall rates of fertility in a given population, and hence its general demographic profile. It also affects a whole range of social institutions of reproduction, above all the ‘shape’ of the family, the relationships between the mother and her children, between husband and wife, and the ways in which property can be redistributed through inheritance. It is the simple and restricted purpose of this paper to re-examine the data that have hitherto been used to determine the age at marriage of girls in Roman society. For the purposes of this study, ‘Roman society’ is defined as the conglomerate of urban-centred communities that developed in Europe west of the Adriatic, as well as in the lands of the Danubian Basin. It is conceded that family types and modes of family formation in the eastern parts of the empire were different from those in the west, and therefore require separate analysis. In performing this task, the analysis presented here also attempts to demonstrate the highly specific nature of the set of data employed in the ‘age-at-marriage’ debate, and to question its relevance to the age at first marriage of most girls in the western Roman empire. Having demonstrated the limited validity of these data, I shall then suggest another method that might usefully be employed to approach the problem. Finally, to complete the argument, a series of hypotheses will be advanced that seek to link the range and modes of age at first marriage of girls of various status groups and classes to other social and economic factors in the Roman world.

1990 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 143-157 ◽  
Author(s):  
Quanhe Yang

SummaryThis paper examines the changing nuptiality pattern of rural China, particularly rural Anhui in relation to the planned social changes since 1949 and their effect on fertility. The data are from the 1/1000 Fertility Survey of China, conducted by the Family Planning Commission in 1982. Before the family planning programme was introduced to rural Anhui (1972), the changing nuptiality pattern was indirectly affected by the planned social changes; after 1972, the substantial increase in age at first marriage was mainly due to the family planning programme. More recently, the centrally controlled social structure is loosening, due to the economic reform and the nuptiality pattern seems to join the 1972 trend, suggesting that the dramatic change of nuptiality pattern during the early 1970s to early 1980s was a temporary one. But its effect on fertility is clear, and the shortening interval between marriage and first birth may bring difficulties for future population control in rural China.


2014 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 26-34
Author(s):  
Ramesh Adhikari ◽  
Kusol Soonthorndhada ◽  
Pramote Prasartkul

Aim: This study aims to determine the factors influencing unintended pregnancy among married women in Nepal Methods: This paper reports on data drawn from Nepal Demographic and Health Survey (DHS), 2001 which is a nationally representative sample survey. The analysis is restricted to the currently pregnant women at the time of survey. Logistic regression was used to assess the net effect of several independent variables on unintended pregnancy. The factors leading to unintended pregnancy were also predicted by using some significant variables in the model. Results: More than two-fifth of the respondents (41%) reported that their current pregnancies were unintended. The results indicate that age, age at first marriage, religion, exposure to radio and knowledge of family planning (FP) methods were key predictors of unintended pregnancy. Experience of unintended pregnancy augments along with the women’s age. Similarly, increase in age at first marriage reduces the likelihood of unintended pregnancy among women. Those who were exposed to radio were less likely (odds ratio, 0.65) to have unintended pregnancy compared to those who were not. Those women who had higher level of knowledge about FP methods were 40% less likely to experience unintended pregnancy compared to those having lower level of knowledge. Conclusion: One of the important factor contributing to high level of maternal and infant mortality is unintended pregnancy. Programs should intend to reduce unintended pregnancy by focusing on all these identified issues so that infant and maternal morbidity and mortality as well as abortion will be decreased and the overall health of the family could be improved. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/njog.v3i2.10828   Nepal Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Vol.3(2) 2008; 26-34


2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-94
Author(s):  
Aneel Shahzad

Age at marriage is an important factor to study the marriage patterns of a country because of strong relationship between age at first marriage and childbearing. In this study, effects of one major socio-cultural factor female education and place of residence have been illustrated. The present study attempted to find differentials in female age at marriage in Pakistan since Pakistan has begun to face early demographic transition since 90’s. The investigation of differentials in female age at marriage in this study is generally based on data analysis of Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey (PDHS) 2006-07. While comparative analysis also discussed in a separate section with findings of PDHS, 2012-13. The age at first marriage of women lived in major urban areas seemed to carry with them the influence of the urban lifestyle and are also influenced by the educational enrollment opportunities.


2004 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 351-370 ◽  
Author(s):  
VASILIS S. GAVALAS

This paper explores family formation and dissolution in the Aegean island of Paros over the period 1894–1998. The examined issues are: trends in age at marriage, age gap between spouses, age differentials among different occupational groups, age at widowhood, remarriage, illegitimacy and bridal pregnancy. The main findings confirmed that certain characteristics of the ‘Mediterranean’ marriage pattern, such as low age at marriage for females, high for males and large age gap between spouses, were present in the study population up until the 1980s. The feature of the family cycle that has changed most dramatically over the examined period is age at widowhood, which has increased spectacularly owing to the impressive progress in adult, and especially maternal, mortality that took place in Greece in the post-war years.


1990 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 395-404 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. I. De Silva

SummaryOver the last four decades in Sri Lanka, age at first marriage for males increased marginally, and for females it rose considerably, but there has been no recent increase in female age at marriage. Among the younger cohorts, estimated ages at which some married indeed show a declining mean age at marriage. Coale-McNeil estimates indicate that there is no real decline in female age at marriage in Sri Lanka. Marriages were delayed as a result of economie hardship or increased mortality to the mid-1970s, but once the overall economy improved after 1977, more marriages took place. Female age at marriage in Sri Lanka remained slightly below 24 years, the age which is anticipated by younger cohorts, and this level is likely to persist for some time.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 5-34
Author(s):  
Abdul Shukur Abdullah ◽  
Nai Peng Tey ◽  
Irwan Nadzif Mahpul ◽  
Nur Airena Aireen Azman ◽  
Rosdiana Abdul Hamid

This paper aims to examine the correlates of age at first marriage and the consequences of late marriage. Data for this paper were drawn from the 2014 Malaysian Population and Family Survey. Simple cross-tabulation and multiple classification analysis were used for the analysis. Age at marriage of women varied across socio-economic groups. Among the ethnic groups, the Other Bumiputera entered marriage earliest, followed by the Malays, Indians and Chinese. Age at marriage was positively associated with urbanisation, educational level, and women’s autonomy in marriage. The assumption of modern norms and ideas, and escalating cost of marriage are important determinants of marriage postponement. Late marriage has a direct impact on demographic outcomes, resulting in ultra-low fertility for some groups of the population. Marriage postponement has positive socio-economic outcomes for individuals. However, postponing marriage beyond the prime reproductive age may result in some reproductive health problems.


1996 ◽  
pp. 284-294
Author(s):  
Beatrice Moring

The crude birth rate in Finland in the eighteenth century was more than 40 per thousand. At the same time there was considerable regional diversity. This study of a coastal population in southwestern Finland reveals that the fertility was well below that of the country as a whole and as low or even lower that that recorded for neighboring countries. A more detailed study of families in Houtskiir indicates that the pattern of fertility varied according to the socioeconomic standing of the family head. Differences in age at first marriage were a critical determinant of these variations but other important factors were birth spacing and the timing  of the last birth. A conscious attempt was made to limit family size.


1987 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 715-747 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martha T. Roth

This inquiry focuses on one life stage in the life cycle of ancient Babylonia and Assyria of the first millennium B.C., specifically, the age at first marriage for men and women. I will suggest some implications to be drawn for the household and family patterns resulting from probable age at marriage, and identify native terminology employed in reference to the life stage common for first marriage.


2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 425-436
Author(s):  
Novi Prayanti ◽  
Zulfanetti Zulfanetti ◽  
Junaidi Junaidi ◽  
Ira Wahyuni

The purpose of this study was to determine the profile of the Family Planning Village in Muara Bulian District, Batanghari Regency, to determine the characteristics of EFA in the Family Planning Village in Muara Bulian District, Batanghari Regency, to analyze the influence of the level of age at first marriage, family income, education, employment status. in Muara Bulian District, Batanghari Regency. The analytical tool used descriptive analysis to analyze data by describing or describing the data and multiple regression analysis. The results of the analysis of this study are that the results of the research that have been carried out on the factors that influence fertility in the Family Planning Village of Batanghari Regency, it is found that the Age of First Marriage, women who have a fertility opportunity of more than 2 have an essential effect in increasing the birth rate. Income, women with a fertility opportunity of more than 2 have an important influence in improving fertility. Junior high school education, in this study, women who have low education do not affect the opportunity to increase fertility. SLTA + education, in this study, women who have higher education do not affect increasing fertility. Employment status, in this study, women who work do not affect increasing fertility.  


1992 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-94 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. A. Sawchuk

ABSTRACT: This article examines the age at first marriage among a series of temporally defined marriage cohorts spanning the period 1909 to 1983 for the civilian inhabitants of the Rock of Gibraltar. The pattern of late marriage among Gibraltarians remained relatively stable until a stage of siege' was imposed by Spain. The reduction in matrimonial age is explored in terms of a host of factors, including a significant rise in the number of women entering the labour force, a reduction in spatially exogamous unions with Spain, and increased feasibility of marriage because of rises in income levels.


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