Abstract
The study seeks to increase understanding of variation in the patterning of life-course events and in the structure of families in remarriage by examining the outcomes of these new marriages for us women. It analyzes the probabilities and the timing of having a birth in a 2nd marriage or of ending the marriage without having a child among women still childless at remarriage and those who already have 1 or more children. By comparing these 2 groups it is possible to determine whether still-childless women are more likely than others to experience a 2nd marital disruption and thus to obtain a better understanding of the dynamics of the relationship between childlessness and marital instability. It is also possible to analyze the effect of remarriage on entry into parenthood for previously childless women and the likelihood of continuing chlidlessness within longterm stable 2nd marriages. By examining these probabilities further by race and other factors it is possible to increase the understanding of change and variation in the family life cycle. This study used multiple decrement life-techniques. 550 whites and 275 blacks were studied. To study the likelihood of having a birth in remarriage women who had ever entered 2nd marriages before the age of 40 and who were not known to be sterile at the time of those marriages were selected. Among white women childless at remarriage 2/3 had a 1st child in the new marriage while a minority continued to be childless in a long term 2nd marriage or experienced separation or divorce from a 2nd marriage while still childless. Among childless black women only 1/3 began childbearing in remarriage. Explored are the relationship of educational level age and period of remarriage to childbearing and stability in remarriage. The findings suggest that in a number of cases marital disruption delays the beginning of childbearing.
Published Version
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