Marriage Distance Research Articles

Love Match, Marriage Distance, and Marriage Payment: Evidence from Rural China

The excessive marriage payment indicated by brideprice/dowry imposes a huge family financial burden, especially on rural households. Although some determinants have been examined, the relationship between matching types of couples and marriage payment is rarely known. The goal of this study is to analyze this relationship and the role of marriage distance in it. We adopt Logit, Tobit, and SUR models with the database across 70 years in rural China from a nearly national representative sample. The results show that love-match couples are 10.7% and 10.3% less likely to pay brideprice and dowry than that of parental matchmaking, respectively, and they pay less amount of brideprice and dowry. There is an inverted U-shaped relationship between marriage distance and brideprice/dowry, and love match has the largest correlation with marriage payment behaviors for couples with long marriage distance.

Culture and Demography: A Micro Level Study Between Two Communities Residing in the City of Kolkata, West Bengal

We aimed to study the demographic patterns of two contrasting communities, namely Bengali Hindu and Bihari Hindu groups, residing in adjacent clusters in the city of Kolkata, West Bengal. The former were the original inhabitants of Kolkata and the latter were a migrant group from the state of Bihar. We collected data from 164 ever-married females (Bengali [84] and Bihari [80]). Data on household information, demographic variables, and marital distance and preferences were collected using a well-tested schedule/questionnaire from ever-married females of both the groups. Some in-depth interviews were conducted on the participants to get information on the reasons for sex preference in childbirth, preference in selecting mates, determining the age at marriage, and so on. Results showed that both the groups differ with respect to sex ratio and child sex ratio, marital preference, marriage distance, and fertility. It appeared from the study that despite the physical proximity between these two groups, their demographic traits differed sharply. We concluded from this study that the differences in demographic traits between these two groups may be attributed to contrasting cultural attributes of these two communities.

Small town development and urban illiteracy: comparative evidence from Leicestershire marriage registers 1754-1890.

"Based on the analysis of Anglican marriage registers for the period 1754 to 1890, the article explores patterns of illiteracy in three small Leicestershire [England] towns with contrasting economic functions. Illiteracy levels were closely related to urban occupational and social structures, which also affected distinct gender differentials. Evidence [of] the effect of literacy on age at marriage and marriage distance suggests that demographic behaviour and spatial interaction were determined more by socio-economic factors than by the possession of literacy skills. Literacy attainment, however, was linked to extended marriage distances when both spouses could sign the register."

‘For how Long can your Pīharwāle Intervene?’: Accessing natal kin support in rural North India

AbstractBased on ethnographic fieldwork in rural Uttar Pradesh, this article contributes to debates on married women's relations with their natal kin. It compares women in ‘regional’ marriages (which conform to caste and community norms with a relatively small marriage distance) with women in ‘cross-regional’ marriages (those that cross caste, linguistic, and state boundaries, and entail long-distance migration). A focus on cross-regional marriage demonstrates how geographic distance cuts women off from vital structures of support. At the same time, even for regional brides, natal kin support is complicated and relative proximity does not guarantee support. Factors such as caste, class, poverty, the gender of children, notions of honour and shame, and stage in the life-course work together in complex ways to determine the duration and kind of support available. By focusing on marital violence, marital breakdown, and widowhood, the article demonstrates both the presence and the limits of natal kin support. The opportunities to draw on natal kin support vary for women, but its significance must not be understated as it alone provides women with the possibility of leaving their marriages, even if only temporarily. The article focuses on one form of women's agency, one that is constrained and highly dependent on relationships with others (mainly male kin). In such a context of economic and social dependency, natal kin support is an important—and perhaps the only—resource available in situations of marital crisis, and its absence leaves women in a particularly vulnerable position.

Mating system and gene flow in the Lutheran communities from historical Polish territories (the Parish of Trzebosz, the second half of the 19th and early 20th century)

The aim of this paper was to analyse the mating system and the degree of genetic isolation of the Lutheran Parish of Trzebosz situated on the borderland between Greater Poland and Silesia. Use was made of 343 records from marriage registers for 1855-1913. For exogamous marriages an analysis of distributions of marriage distances based on the order of neighbourhood for isotropic, 2-dimensional migration was carried out. The factual and theoretical mating distances distributions were compared using the chi-square test. The degree of isolation of the Lutheran Parish of Trzebosz was evaluated on the basis of the coefficient of kinship f and the intragroup coefficient of inbreeding by isonymy. Gene flow in the Lutheran Parish of Trzebosz had no bearing upon the theoretical model of isotropic, 2-dimensional migration. Low values of the coefficients of kinship and the intragroup coefficient of inbreeding by isonymy show that the parish was not isolated in terms of breeding.

Of Marriage and Migration

This article focuses on long-distance or cross-regional marriages in a village in Badaun District of Uttar Pradesh where brides have migrated from the states of West Bengal and Bihar. These marriages cross caste, linguistic and state boundaries and the marriage distance exceeds 1,000 kilometres. At destination, it is a combination of factors such as landlessness or marginal landownership, higher age or prior marital status and ‘flawed’ reputation that makes it difficult for men to find local wives. These factors have to be seen in the context of the low sex ratio (causing a shortage of brides) of the district and the state. At source, the compulsions include poverty and the inability of parents to meet the dowry demands of local men. The article argues that the long-distance/cross-regional marriages are not dowry marriages. Nor are the brides bought, given in exchange for a bride-price or trafficked. They are a new kind of commercially mediated marriage involving payment to a go-between.

Endogamy and Marital Distance among the Phayeng of Manipur

This paper highlights the incidence of endogamy and marriage distance among the Phayeng, a Loi (Scheduled Caste) community of Manipur, who, in later stage of their history coalesced into the larger Meitei society. It also reveals the relationship between village endogamy and consanguinity on one hand and Loi endogamy, occupational endogamy and traditional occupations on the other. The relevant data of the paper are collected by conducting a fieldwork among the people. Techniques, such as personal interview and schedule supplemented by genealogical method are employed to collect the data. The statistical analysis shows that MMD is much higher among the non-consanguineous couples (20.63 ± 16.65 km) than consanguineous couples (3.88 ± 10.20 km). The distribution is positively skewed and leptokurtic. Thus, the findings of the present study agree with that of the earlier study but shows increase in the marital distance and decrease in the incidence of consanguineous marriage.

DISTANCE ASSOCIATED WITH MARRIAGE MIGRATION IN A NORTHERN AND A SOUTHERN REGION OF BANGLADESH: AN EMPIRICAL STUDY

This paper investigates the distribution of distance associated with marriage migration in the northern region of Rajshahi and the southern region of Khulna in Bangladesh. The study was conducted in 2007 on 2250 respondents who had migrated due to marriage. Of the wide variety of curves that fitted the distance-marriage/contact data, three are discussed: Pareto, exponential, and Pareto-exponential. Logistic regression models were used to identify the covariates of marriage distance migration. In general, the three functions work better for marriages, whereas Pareto-exponential functions are a superior fit for migrations and marriage distance. The models disclose that the distribution of distance is significantly associated with marriage migration (p<0.001). The Pareto-exponential model was 100% stable and its shrinkage was 0.000000125. The main covariates associated with short-distance marriage migration were respondent's education, father's education and religion, whereas age at the time of marriage did not play a significant role in marriage migration. The risk of short-distance migration was greater in higher- than lower-educated Muslim families.

Residents’ Intermarriage behavior in Guangzhou, China in Last 60 Years

The authors attempt to explore residents’ intermarriage behavior and its temporal-spatial pattern in Guangzhou, a southern coastal metropolis in China in last 6 decades. The metropolis has experienced large influx of migrants since the reform and opening to outside world policy was introduced. Questionnaire survey was done in December 2008. Results indicate : a) marriage frequency over distance follows the rule of distance decay ; b) average marriage distance of each decade undergoes wide V-shape trend from 1950s to 2000s ; c) strong sense of city hierarchy in intermarriage ; d) Internet increasingly becomes one of the important agents and shows the longest effective distance compared to other marriage agents ; e) county boundary and provincial boundary are the most important geographical boundaries in mating. Whether the findings demonstrate a common picture of love map of metropolis or just a unique local practice, case studies from other places in China are expected for comparison analysis.

Spatial and geographic characteristics of marriage migration in the Lugansk population

Data from the Lugansk City Registry Office archives of 1960, 1985, 1990, and 2000 were used to calculate genetic demographic parameters characterizing marriage migration. The migration coefficients (m) in these years were 0.69, 0.54, 0.47, and 0.36; the endogamy indices were 12.1, 24.4, 30.5, and 43.2%, and the marriage contingency coefficients with respect to birthplace (K) were 0.12, 0.10, 0.11, and 0.13, respectively. The mean migration distance increased by a factor of 1.5 (from 599 to 870 km), and the mean parent-offspring distance decreased by a factor of 1.3 (from 415 to 317 km) during the period between 1960 and 2000. The mean marriage distance increased from 654 to 718 km between 1960 and 1985 and then decreased to 594 km by the year 2000. The proportion of "long-distance" migrations calculated using Malecot's model increased from 0.013 to 0.021 between 1960 and 1990 and decreased to 0.005 by 2000. The proportion of "short-distance" migrations was 0.77 in 1960 and 0.51 in 2000. The migration efficiency increased from 0.09 to 0.18 between 1960 and 1990 and decreased to 0.07 by 2000. In the years studied, the indices of isolation by distance (b) were 0.0005, 0.0004, 0.0005, and 0.0002, and the population "radii" were 90, 118, 119, and 168 km, respectively.

Biodemographic and molecular analysis of an isolated Alpine population (Postua)

Isolated populations have been the object of several genetic and anthropological studies, since endogamy and inbreeding often lead to the acquisition of a particular gene pool. In this context, we studied the small, ancient population of Postua in the north-western Italian Alps. We used biodemographic and molecular techniques to analyse the population structure in order to evaluate the relationship between geographical and genetic isolation. We examined about 26,000 certificates kept in the town and parish archives, concerning the period from 1640 to 1999. High rates of endogamy and isonymy, short marriage distances and a low ratio between the number of surnames and the number of individuals were inferred. In the molecular analysis, we compared the distribution of Y chromosome SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms) with those of mitochondrial variations and Y chromosomal microsatellites (short tandem repeat polymorphisms) in 102 healthy individuals originating from Postua. A control sample (94 individuals) was collected from a plain area, 50 km away. We examined 23 SNPs and an Alu repeat, located in the nonrecombinant portion of the Y chromosome. To further delineate Y chromosome lineages, the biallelic haplogroups were further resolved using Y microsatellite markers (DYS19, DYS391, DYS392, DYS393). Mitochondrial HVS-I and HVS-II regions were sequenced, and RFLP screening with the six classical enzymes was performed. Postua is similar to other populations living in northern Italy, but it shows a lower number of haplotypes. The samples were compared with other European populations. We calculated genetic distances according to Reynold and Nei and we carried out a phylogenetic analysis by phylogenetic trees and reduced median networks construction. Postua clusters with other samples from northern Italy but in a separate position, probably indicating drift phenomena. These relationships are supported by AMOVA (analysis of molecular variance). Our results suggest that the influence of neighbouring populations on the gene pool of Postua has been very low through both females and males.

Genetic demography of Ukrainian urban populations in the 1990's: ethnicity and birth places of migrants to the Poltava population

Analysis of the birthplace and ethnicity of males and females contracting marriages in the city of Poltava in 1960, 1985, and 1995 revealed a trend towards return of Ukrainians from various regions of the former Soviet Union to their places of origin. In the migration flow, Russians were gradually substituted by Ukrainians, and the total proportion of Slavs increased. The isolation by distance (b) decreased from 0.00122 to 0.00075 in the period from 1960 to 1985 and then increased to 0.00098 by 1995. Positive association was found between the parent-offspring distance and marriage distance (the correlation coefficient r = 0.65-0.75).

Mating structure in marriages from Western Siovakia based on isonymy and repeated pairs of surnames

The historical marriage records from the villages Moravský Jan, Sobotiste and Vel'ke Levare in Western Slovakia were analyzed using isonymy and repeated pairs of surname (RP) methods for temporal changes in mating structure. The total coefficient of inbreeding (F) ranges in the particular villages from F = 0.0049 to F = 0.0122. The non-random component of F (Fn) appears to be an insignificant factor in Moravský Jan, whereas in the two other villages Fn values are higher than the random (Fr) ones, suggesting that marital isonymy is a major factor of Fn. The observed RP values exceed the random RP (RPr) ones in all three populations, indicating that these populations experienced subdivisioning due to the influence of lineage-like behaviour in mate choice with concomitant decrease in genetic variability. The z score testing the null hypothesis of RP = RPr is statistically significant in all three populations. The results on endogamy and exogamy, differential migration by sex and mean marriage distance show: The average coefficient of endogamy ranges from 51.62 % to 61.12 % in particular villages; greater migration by males than females in all three populations; the mean marriage distance ranges between 7.89-19.99 km in particular populations.

Study of the matrimonial structure of the population of Central Sardinia (Italy)

Temporal changes in the matrimonial structure of four Sardinian populations (Bitti, Lula, Lodè and Gavoi) have been studied. The endogamy rates and the average marriage distances indicate that the four villages experienced a long period of isolation. Only in recent decades endogamous marriages have fallen shortly. The trends of marital isonymy and inbreeding, evaluated both from isonymy and dispensation for consanguineous marriages, are similar to those of endogamy. The kinship values between pairs of populations show some preferential relationship (Bitti-Lodè, Lodè-Lula) and an evident differentiation between Gavoi and Bitti. The results also indicate that the values of kinship are not associated with the geographic distances. The possible impact of the matrimonial structure on the genetic structure and the relationships among the studied populations will be examined in further investigations, in which the genetic markers will be considered.

Stagnation Without Equity: Patterns of Growth and Inequality in China's Rural Economy

When China's leaders launched rural reforms in the late 1970s, they acknowledged the nation's need to modify its commitment to egalitarianism.1 Slogans such as Tt is glorious to be rich!' and 'Some areas will lead; others will follow!' signalled this fundamental shift in ideology. Leaders backed up these exhortations with a series of concrete policy actions ? establishing the Special Economic Zones and implementing the East Coast-first policy, introducing financial reforms, and initiating the rural industrialization movement. In China's version of the 'trickle down' theory, certain core areas were to take the lead in the modernization process and provide models for other areas to later emulate. Adopting strategies that had been employed

The Persistence of Social Isolation in Eastern Kentucky: An Examination of Marriage-Mate Selection Distances

Marriage-mate selection distances are used to operationalize the concept of isolation for three eastern Kentucky counties. Isolation changes between 1900 and 1988 are compared for four periods of economic transformation. The assumption is that short marriage distances occur in isolated areas whereas longer marriage distances reflect a greater spatial range of physical and social contact. Isolation, as defined by marriage-mate selection distances, decreased substantially during the industrial transformation period of 1900-1930 but changed very little between 1930 and 1988. Our findings stand in stark contrast to those of Ford (1962) who argued that factors such as education, mass communication, and improved roads have helped to reduce isolation in the southern Appalachian region.

Marriage distances among the Afroamericans of Bluefields, Nicaragua

In a sample of 311 couples from the Afroamerican community of Bluefields, Eastern Nicaragua, the distribution of matrimonial distance shows a deviation from the leptokurtic rule. This results from assortative mating among the population.

Progress and Stagnation: Changes in Fertility and Women's Position in an Indian Village

This paper compares women's status, fertility, and contraceptive use in 1975 and 1987 among married women aged 15–26 in a Maharashtra village. Changes in women's position over the 12 years were both positive and negative. Although education and age at marriage had increased, the 1987 cohort was more conservative in many respects. Fertility appeared to be declining, and women were increasingly completing their families quickly and then undergoing sterilization. However, the decline in fertility goals was not primarily due to changes in women's status but to the active sterilization campaign in the community. The one constraint on fertility limitation was the need for sons, and in this some indicators of women's status – education, age at marriage and distance from the women's natal home – made a significant difference. The finding that women's autonomy seemed to be related to ‘marriage distance’ deserves further study, particularly in South Asia and other patrilocal societies.

Modernization and household formation on St. Bart: Continuity and change

The population of Saint Barthelemy, French West Indies, consists of descendants of French peasants who emigrated to the West Indies nearly three centuries ago. As in rural France, new households are formed on the island upon marriage. This study analyzes changes in marriage patterns that have occurred in the 99 years between 1878–1976. These changes include increase in marriage distance, increase in completed family size, increase in celibacy, decrease in the frequency of cousin marriage, and decrease in the percentage of mothers bearing children out of wedlock. The data are derived from the parochial and civil records of birth, death, and marriage of nearly 10,000 individuals. Despite changes in marriage patterns and modernization of the island, there has been little change in household form or the process of household formation.

Human Mating Patterns.

Preface Part I. Historical and Demographic Studies: 1. Mating Patterns: an historical perspective A. D. J. Macfarlane 2. Mating distance and historical population structure: a review A. C. Swedlund 3. Marriage distance and ethnicity C. Peach and J. Clyde Mitchell 4. Mating patterns in isolates L. Jakobi and P. Darlu Part II. Mate Choice and Assortative mating: 5. Assortative mating for psychometric characters C. G. N. Mascie-Taylor 6. Assortative mating for anthropometric characters C. Susanne and Y. Lepage 7. Application of surname frequency distributions to studies of mating preferences G. W. Lasker Part III. Medical and Biological Aspects of Inbreeding: 8. Genetic relatedness and the evolution of animal mating patterns A. F. Read and P. H. Harvey 9. Regulation of mating choice in nonhuman primates D. Quiatt 10. Inbreeding in human populations: an assessment of the costs A. H. Bittles and E. Makov 11. Mating patterns and genetic disease P. Harper and D. F. Roberts Part IV. Social, Religious and Cultural Factors: 12. The effect of preference rules on marriage patterns B. Dyke and P. G. Riviere 13. Religious rules, mating patterns and fertility V. Reynolds 14. The relevance of the polygyny threshold model to humans M. Borgerhoff Mulder Index.