Unmarried Men Research Articles

Outlawed Children: Japanese Filipino Children, Legal Defiance and Ambivalent Citizenships

On 4 June 2008, Japan's Supreme Court's presiding judge announced the decision in a case affirming the nationality of ten Japanese Filipino children (JFC),2 who were born to unmarried Filipino women and men, and who were legally acknowledged by the men after birth. Subsequently, all the 15 judges stood up and silently left the Grand Bench, where they spent less than a minute concluding the trial. So brief a period that most people in the audience were left mystified, as few, it seemed, understood the meanings and references of the legal language and so they feared cheering in error. The plaintiffs' mothers, seated in the audience behind their lawyers, were also wondering what had just happened to their children's lives, whispering to each other their hopes and fears. The

Predicting Arrest in Early Adulthood: The Relationship between Internal and External Sources of Control

The general theory of crime and life course theory are two competing criminological perspectives that attempt to explain individuals' propensities to commit crime. The general theory of crime addresses internal mechanisms of self-control such as impulsivity; life course theory addresses external mechanisms such as school, employment, and marriage (social bonds) (Cullen & Agnew, 2006). Criminologists debate whether internal controls (Gottfredson & Hirschi, 1990) or external controls (Sampson & Laub, 1993) are more effective in reducing criminal behavior (Cohen & Vila, 1996). However, the present study examines relationships between internal and external control as predictors of arrest. As such, this research note examines the influence of self-control in forming three types of social bonds commonly associated with preventing criminal activity--education, employment, and marriage and then subsequently examines both self-control and social bonds as predictors of arrest in young adulthood. BACKGROUND General Theory of Crime This theory asserts that self-control decreases the likelihood of engaging in delinquent or criminal behavior (Gottfredson & Hirschi, 1990) and is developed through socialization, generally established by age 10. Parents who develop prosocial relationships with their children and appropriately punish deviant acts are helping their children develop self-control (Akers & Sellers, 2004). Once self-control is established, it remains stable throughout the person's life, resulting in decreased likelihood for deviant behavior (Gottfredson & Hirschi, 1990). Children with higher internalized mechanisms of self-control are more likely to understand the long-term consequences of their actions than individuals with low self-control (O'Connell, 2003). Many studies provide support for self-control as an element of the general theory of crime by confirming the relationship between low self-control and delinquency (Pratt & Cullen, 2000). For example, a four-nation comparative study (Vazsonyi, Pickering, Junger, & Hessing, 2001) found that self-control accounted for 17% to 28% of the variance in total deviance across various groups of adolescents. A meta-analysis of 21 studies assessing self-control and crime found that subjects with low self-control were more likely to be criminal offenders (Pratt & Cullen, 2000).These studies support the primary tenet of the general theory of crime that self-control is an important mechanism in criminality (Akers & Sellers, 2004). Life Course Theory Life course theory suggests that trajectories toward criminality are fostered by the absence of structure, routine, and informal social controls (Laub & Sampson, 2003) and that transitions can alter a person's life trajectory (Sampson & Laub, 1990). The goal of life course theory is to understand the stability and changes in criminal behavior while recognizing the importance of major life course transitions (Akers & Sellers, 2004). Significant events, such as marriage, employment, and education, may have pronounced effects on criminal behavior (Horney, Osgood, & Marshall, 1995; Sampson & Laub, 1993; Simons, Johnson, Conger, & Elder, 1998; Uggen, 2000; Warr, 1998). Ties to social bonds, such as job stability and marital attachment, have been shown to be significantly related to changes in adult criminality (Sampson & Laub, 1993). For example, employment appears to be a transition in the life-course for offenders over 26 years old, and maximizing participation in gainful employment decreases criminal involvement (Uggen, 2000). Marriage has been shown to be the strongest discriminator between those who desist from criminal behavior and those who recidivate (Benda, Toombs, & Peacock, 2003).Although several studies indicate that young men who marry are more likely to resist criminal involvement than unmarried young men (Benda et al. …

Indian Men's Use of Commercial Sex Workers: Prevalence, Condom Use, and Related Gender Attitudes

Commercial sex represents a critical context for HIV transmission within India and elsewhere. Despite research and programmatic attention to commercial sex workers (CSWs), less is known concerning the male CSW clients considered a bridge population for HIV transmission to the general population and thought to drive demand for the sex trafficking of women and girls. The current study assesses the prevalence of past year CSW contact, condom nonuse therein, and associations with demographic characteristics and gendered attitudes among a national sample of Indian men. The nationally representative Indian National Family Health Survey-3 was conducted across all Indian states in 2005-2006; the current sample was limited to 46,961 sexually active men. Analyses calculated the prevalence of past year CSW contact and inconsistent condom use; adjusted logistic regression models were used to evaluate associations of demographic characteristics, sexual entitlement and justification of wife abuse with past year CSW contact, and inconsistent condom use. Approximately 1 in 100 Indian men (0.9%) reported past year CSW contact; over half of such men reported inconsistent condom use with CSWs. CSW contact was most common among men ages 15-24 (3.6%) and never married men (9.9%). Men's CSW contact related to higher levels of sexual entitlement (adjusted odds ratio = 1.64; 95% confidence interval 1.24 to 2.17) and justification of violence against wives (adjusted odds ratio = 1.41; 95% confidence interval: 1.03 to 1.93). Men's past year CSW contact was concentrated among young and unmarried Indian men; condom nonuse with CSWs was common. Traditional gender ideologies seemed to support men's CSW contact, bolstering consideration of this behavior as a gendered form of HIV risk. Findings provide direction for interventions to reduce men's CSW contact in the Indian context by describing high-risk subpopulations and indicating that gender ideologies should be addressed.

Fatter Attraction: Marital Status and the Relationship between BMI and Labor Supply

We empirically analyze the labor supply choices of married men and women according to their body size (BMI), using data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics on anthropometric characteristics of both spouses, and unmarried men and women as comparison group. Heavier husbands are found to work significantly more hours and earn more labor income, controlling for both spouses’ demographic and socioeconomic characteristics. Conversely, no such effect is found for either unmarried individuals or for married women. We suggest a marriage market mechanism through which male BMI and earnings are positively related. Heavier married men compensate for their negative physical trait by providing their wives with more disposable income, working more hours and earning more. Heavier women may not able to compensate their spouse through labor supply, as female physical traits are more relevant in the marriage market than the corresponding male traits.

The Psychological and Social Aspects of Single Female Home Buying

The desire for homeownership in the United States is longstanding (Shlay, 2006). Marriage, leading to family household formation, has been the traditional path to homeownership. However, in the boom years of the mid 1990s to 2000s, unmarried women made up more than one-third of the growth in real estate ownership (Joint Center for Housing Studies, 2005). Further, twice as many unmarried women as unmarried men bought homes during that period (Joint Center for Housing Studies, 2005). Utilizing an interpretative qualitative paradigm, in-depth interviews, and social identity theory, this research explored the social, psychological and symbolic meanings that single, never-married women in their 30s and 40s attributed to the home buying experience. This work consisted of 12 in-depth interviews and included participants from two eastern states. In total, nine social and psychological themes emerged; seven were strongly supported and identified by at least 6 of the 12 participants, while two received moderate support and were discussed by at least 3 of the 12 respondents. The themes discussed in this paper identified and answered the question of why single women bought homes and focused on the symbolism of homeownership. Findings revealed that women buy homes to take control of their lives, to feel more grown up and to gain a sense of security or stability. At the same time, homeownership can be stressful to the women and intimidating to the men in their lives. This analysis would be of use to professionals in the housing industry to better understand the motivations of single female home buyers.

Using sperm posthumously: national guidelines versus practice

Under pressure from involved families and time limitations, Israeli judges tend to authorize postmortem sperm retrieval and freezing, even in unmarried men and in contradiction to current, albeit non-legally binding, guidelines of the Attorney General. Postmortem sperm retrieval in our institution (2003 to June 2009) was successful in 17 cases, motile sperm was found in 16/17, and cryopreservation was performed in 15/16: no application for use of any of the postmortem frozen samples has been performed thus far.

Self-rated health and health conditions of married and unmarried men in Jamaica.

Background:Since 1988, when Jamaica began collecting data on the living conditions of its people, men have reported seeking less health care than women. Despite this fact, the group has never been studied by researchers. The same is true about the health status of married and non-married men.Objectives:The current study will 1) evaluate the changing epidemiological patterns of diseases affecting men in Jamaica; 2) determine factors that correlate with good health status of men; 3) compare and contrast the differences in health status of men, in particular marital status; and 4) determine which marital status has the greater health status.Materials and Methods:The data for this research were taken from two secondary cross-sectional surveys. A sample of 8,078 respondents 15 years and older was extracted from the 2002 survey (n=25,018 respondents) and 2,224 respondents from the 2007 sample (n=6,783 respondents). SPSS for Windows 16.0 was used to store, retrieve and analyse the data. Chi-square, analysis of variance, t-test and logistic regression were used in this paper.Results:Married men are more likely to report an illness than never married (OR = 1.68, 95% CI = 1.45-1.95), separated, divorced or widowed men (OR = 2.62, 95% CI = 2.06-3.33). No significant statistical difference existed between the self-rated health status of married and unmarried men.Conclusion:This study provides a platform upon which future studies can commence as we begin to examine men's health in Jamaica.

Men’s Work Efforts and the Transition to Fatherhood

In this paper we tested three hypotheses: (a) the transition to fatherhood is associated with an increase in work effort; (b) the positive association (if any) between the transition to fatherhood and work effort is greater for fathers who are married at the time of the transition; and (c) the association (if any) is greater for men who make the transition at younger ages. The data are from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 Cohort. The transition to fatherhood was associated with an increase in work effort among young unmarried men, but not for married men. Among married men who were on-time fathers, work effort decreased. Among childless men, the marriage transition was associated with increased work effort.

Differences between married and unmarried men and women in the relationship between perceived physical health and perceived mental health

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"Those Who Gather in": An Indigenous Ritual Dance in the Context of Contemporary Mexican Transnationalism

Abstract For many generations, the Dance of the Cúrpites has been performed annually at Epiphany by young, unmarried men in the Purépecha (Tarascan) town of San Juan Nuevo Parangaricutiro, in the Mexican state of Michoacán. Ethnographic data suggest that the dance is an abstract representation of the biblical visit of the Magi, the underlying metaphor of which the dancers enact in order to express their masculinity and court their sweethearts. Examining possible reasons for the failure of the many dancers who are migrant workers to recreate the dance in California, the author contends that the context-specific meanings of the dance do not easily translate abroad. Nevertheless, upon returning home, young migrants embrace the dance as a way to reaffirm their membership in the community, thereby resolving, if only briefly, the ambiguities of their transnational lives.

The Effect of Family Organization and Race and Ethnicity on Women’s Economic Status in New York State

Family organization has a significant impact on women’s economic status; thus this article analyzes earnings and employment status data by two familial characteristics— marital status and the presence of children in the household—while disaggregating for race and ethnicity. When children are present in the household, women’s earnings are slightly lower; men’s earnings are flat or moderately higher. There is an obvious relationship between marriage, the presence of children, and the extent to which women and men engage in the paid labor force. Married women have a slightly higher share of the overall labor force than unmarried women but engage in less full-time employment and more part-time employment. Women with children in the household engage in less full-time employment than do women with no children. Compared to unmarried men, married men have a higher labor force participation rate, engage in more full-time and less part-time employment, and have the lowest unemployment rate. Men with children present in the household engage in more full-time employment than men with no children. The relationship between marital status and earnings, and between the presence of children and earnings, varies among races and ethnicities.

"Those Who Gather In": An Indigenous Ritual Dance in the Context of Contemporary Mexican Transnationalism

For many generations, the Dance of the Cúrpites has been performed annually at Epiphany by young, unmarried men in the Purépecha (Tarascan) town of San Juan Nuevo Parangaricutiro, in the Mexican state of Michoacán. Ethnographic data suggest that the dance is an abstract representation of the biblical visit of the Magi, the underlying metaphor of which the dancers enact in order to express their masculinity and court their sweethearts. Examining possible reasons for the failure of the many dancers who are migrant workers to recreate the dance in California, the author contends that the context-specific meanings of the dance do not easily translate abroad. Nevertheless, upon returning home, young migrants embrace the dance as a way to reaffirm their membership in the community, thereby resolving, if only briefly, the ambiguities of their transnational lives.

Fatter Attraction: Marital Status and the Relationship between BMI and Labor Supply

We empirically analyze the labor supply choices of married men and women according to their body size (BMI), using data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics on anthropometric characteristics of both spouses, and unmarried men and women as comparison group. Heavier husbands are found to work significantly more hours and earn more labor income, controlling for both spouses’ demographic and socioeconomic characteristics. Conversely, no such effect is found for either unmarried individuals or for married women. We suggest a marriage market mechanism through which male BMI and earnings are positively related. Heavier married men compensate for their negative physical trait by providing their wives with more disposable income, working more hours and earning more. Heavier women may not able to compensate their spouse through labor supply, as female physical traits are more relevant in the marriage market than the corresponding male traits.

Fatter Attraction: Marital Status and the Relationship between BMI and Labor Supply

We empirically analyze the labor supply choices of married men and women according to their body size (BMI), using data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics on anthropometric characteristics of both spouses, and unmarried men and women as comparison group. Heavier husbands are found to work significantly more hours and earn more labor income, controlling for both spouses’ demographic and socioeconomic characteristics. Conversely, no such effect is found for either unmarried individuals or for married women. We suggest a marriage market mechanism through which male BMI and earnings are positively related. Heavier married men compensate for their negative physical trait by providing their wives with more disposable income, working more hours and earning more. Heavier women may not able to compensate their spouse through labor supply, as female physical traits are more relevant in the marriage market than the corresponding male traits.

Demographic, physical and lifestyle factors associated with androgen status: the Florey Adelaide Male Ageing Study (FAMAS)

Plasma androgen levels are inversely associated with health in men, the age-related decline of which may result from factors other than ageing per se. This study aimed to determine the effects of demographic, physical and lifestyle factors on age-related androgen status in men. An observational survey of a regionally representative male population residing in the North West regions of Adelaide, Australia. Study sample includes 1195 men aged 35-81 years with a response rate of 45.1%. Plasma levels of total testosterone (TT), bioavailable testosterone (BT), SHBG, insulin-like peptide 3 (INSL3), and gonadotrophins were measured along with an extensive list of demographic, physical and lifestyle factors including body composition, muscle strength and biomarkers of chronic diseases, physical activity, nutrition and smoking behaviour. Low TT was mostly associated with high abdominal fat and triglycerides and low muscle strength rather than ageing per se. Low BT was associated with increased age followed by high whole body fat percentage. BT and TT levels were higher in unmarried men and smokers. SHBG levels increased with age, but were also inversely associated with insulin and triglycerides. The Leydig cell specific factor INSL3 was the strongest biomarker associated with both TT and BT. Factors associated with low androgen status variably include high body fat percentage, low muscle strength and biomarkers of the metabolic syndrome. Reducing exposure to factors that adversely affect androgen status may improve the general health of ageing men by mechanisms yet to be defined.

Marital Status, Partner Satisfaction, and Depressive Symptoms in Older Men and Women

To determine if marital status is associated with depressive symptoms in men and women, and to determine if partner satisfaction is associated with depressive symptoms. Community-dwelling adults (n = 1751) aged 65 years and older were sampled from a representative population-based registry. Age, sex, education, and marital status were self-reported. Satisfaction with living partner was assessed with an item from the terrible-delightful scale. The Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression was used to assess depressive symptoms, with a score of 15 or more indicating depressive symptoms. Only 3% of the sample were dissatisfied with their living partner, and those who were dissatisfied with their living partner had higher levels of depressive symptoms. Proportions of men with depressive symptoms were: 20.6% for never married; 19.2% for separated or divorced; 17.3% for widowed; 7.3% for married (satisfied); and 38.1% for married (dissatisfied) (chi square = 32.98, df = 4, P < 0.001). In women, the results were different: 11.8% for never married; 23.1% for separated or divorced; 15.4% for widowed; 14.4% for married (satisfied); and 41.9% for married (dissatisfied) (chi square = 18.33, df = 4, P < 0.001). In logistic regression models, a significant interaction term was seen for Marital status Sex. In stratified models, adjusting for age and education, an effect of marital status was seen in men, but not in women. The effects of marriage on depressive symptoms in men and women may be different, with lower levels of depressive symptoms in married men, compared with unmarried men, but similar rates in married women, compared with unmarried women. Dissatisfaction with their partner was uncommon, but highly associated with depressive symptoms.

Marital status and survival following bladder cancer

Background:Marital status has been implicated as a prognostic factor in bladder cancer survival. However, few studies have explored potential mechanisms through which this might occur.Methods:The study identified 19 982 bladder...

Childlessness and the Economic Well-being of Older Americans

The study's purpose is to examine the relationship between childlessness and two key indicators of older Americans' economic well-being: income and wealth. Using the Health and Retirement Survey, the study estimates this relationship and compares findings from standard ordinary least squares, random effects, quantile regression, and two propensity score models. Compared with married parents, childless married couples tend to have slightly more income and about 5% more wealth. Unmarried childless men enjoy no income advantage over unmarried fathers but have 24%-33% more wealth. Compared with older unmarried mothers, unmarried childless women have 12%-31% more income and about 33% more wealth. The strength of these relationships increases as one moves up the distribution of income or wealth. This study provides evidence on the relationship between childlessness and both income and wealth, including the first evidence for men. The findings may be useful for persons concerned about the determinants of childless adults' well-being as well as the long-run financial demands on public programs that provide income support, health and nursing home care, and social services for older Americans.

The widow’s offering: Inheritance, family structure, and the charitable gifts of women

Researchers and commentators have compared men and women’s charitable giving patterns and have concluded that one sex was more generous than the other. Most research based on modern data has found women to be more philanthropic than men. In this article, I compare charitable donations of unmarried men and women in a sample of wills from 17th Century England. I find that men are more likely to make donations than women and make larger average donations. This difference in giving can be explained by differences in wealth and family structure and should not be ascribed to differences in charitable impulses.

Population‐based assessment of Mycoplasma genitalium in Vietnam – low prevalence among married women of reproductive age in a rural area

To analyse the prevalence of Mycoplasma genitalium infection in a population-based study among married women from a demographic surveillance site in a rural geographical area of Vietnam. Women, aged 18-49 years, were randomly selected to participate. DNA was isolated from endocervical swabs sampled from 990 participating women. The M. genitalium MgPa adhesion gene was detected using a real-time polymerase chain reaction with TaqMan probe. Eight (0.8%; 95% confidence interval, 0.25-1.35%) of the included women were infected with M. genitalium. Two of these positive women reported clinical symptoms. One additional M. genitalium-positive but symptom-free woman, however, showed clinical signs of vaginitis. None of the M. genitalium-positive women was concomitantly infected with Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, syphilis or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Furthermore, there was no obvious association between M. genitalium infection and vaginal douching, use of intrauterine device, or occurrence of bacterial vaginosis, candidiasis, or Trichomonas vaginalis. The prevalence of M. genitalium among married women in Vietnam was relatively low. However, more large, well-designed and appropriately performed studies in other population groups including unmarried women and men, and in other geographical areas, rural as well as urban, are crucial in order to extract any evidence-based conclusions regarding the overall prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including M. genitalium infections, in the Vietnamese society. The present study compiled with such future studies may form the basis for a national sexual health strategy for prevention, diagnosis, and surveillance of STIs, including M. genitalium infections, in Vietnam.