Births Outside of Marriage: Perceptions vs. Realityirths to unmarried - PDF document

Births Outside of Marriage: Perceptions vs. Realityirths to unmarried women have risen substantially in recent decades. In 1970, the over-By 1999, one in every three births occurred outside of marriage. This increase in child-then declined slightly. However, rates of nonmarital childbearinggreater obstacles and suffer greater strains than married couples and their children. Much less isresearch brief paints a fuller picture of nonmarital childbearing. The data presented here dispel Almost half (48 percent) of births to 4301 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 100, Washington, DC 20008 RIEF Source: Ventura SJ, Bachrach CA. Nonmarital childbearing in the United States, 1940-1999.National vital statistics reports; vol 48 no 16. Hyattsville, Maryland: National Center for Health 19701994 1,000 unmarried women aged 15-44. Thistwentieth century for U.S. women. For exam-unmarried women in 1994. After peaking inbirths per 1,000 unmarried women andteens aged 18-19 had 64.5 per 1,000 lower: 39.1 births per 1,000 unmarriedoccurred to females under age twenty. Bybirths (29 percent) were to teens. The pro-cent in 1999. The largest percentage pointamong women aged 25 and older. In 1970,. Although the per-sequent births outside of marriage. Between 010203040507080Age of Mother (in years) in 1998outside of marriage.25-29 15-1735-3940-4430-34 Source: Ventura SJ, Bachrach CA. Nonmarital childbearing in the United States, 1940-1999.National vital statistics reports; vol. 48 no 16. Hyattsville, Maryland: National Center for Health18-19Rate of births per 1,000 women Teens account for a diminishing share of nonmarital births.*19701999Source: Ventura SJ, Bachrach CA. Nonmarital childbearing in the United States, 1940-1999. Nationalvital statistics reports; vol 48 no 16. Hyattsville, Maryland: National Center for Health Statistics. 2000. nonmarital births are first births. Recentbetween 1992 and 1995. It also found thatbirths. In addition, 16 percent of all nonmari-births are planned by the mother. In reality,the vast majority of nonmarital pregnanciesried women end in an abortion.unintended at conception. The likelihoodmarital status. For example, 58 percent of nic minorities. And, indeed, the nonmaritalried women aged 15-44. This rate hadried women aged 15-44. This rate declined Never MarriedFormerly MarriedCurrently Married 19701998 Racial and ethnic disparities in nonmarital birth ratesSource: Ventura SJ, Bachrach CA. Nonmarital childbearing in the United States, 1940-1999. National vital statistics reports; vol 48 no 16. Hyattsville, Maryland: National Center for Health Statistics. 15-44. The rate steadily increased, reach-The Cohabitation Factor like relationship. The proportion of people In the 1990s, Hispanics andAmericans (22 percent). In addition, The percentage of all nonmarital births that are to cohabitingSource: Bumpass, L and Lu, H. Trends in cohabitation and implications for children’s family context in the 1980-19841990-1994 33%21%53%22%50%0104050 Source: Bumpass, L and Lu, H. Trends in cohabitation and implications for children’s family context in theBlackHispanic (Fragile Families and Child Well-found that 45 percent oftime of the birth. An additional 37 percentThe percentage of women who arehood of marriage at all ages. For example, theunmarried. By 1998, almost one-half (45 per-cent) were unmarried. The decline in mar-In addition, the percentage of unmarried preg-in childbearing patterns as in marriage andA variety of factors may have con-United States. Factors that may have con-workers; and, in some places, urban social dis- Source: Fragile Families Research Brief, Dispelling Myths About Unmarried Fathers, Bendheim- CohabitingNotRomanticRomanticApart18%37%45% 12%16%39%78%28%31%45%94%73%01020304050708090100 18-1920-2425-2930-3435-44Source: Ventura SJ, Bachrach CA. Nonmarital childbearing in the United States, 1940-1999. National vital statistics reports; vol 48 no 16. Hyattsville, Maryland: National Center for Health Statistics. 2000. have births within marriage, both before andafter a nonmarital birth. Data show thatBeing older doesn't seem to makemuch easier. Unmarried women who are aged20 and older at the time they give birth arePerception vs. Reality is that nonmaritalbirths are equivalent to teen births. Theital childbearing. The increase in nonmar-has been driven by births to women agedis that nonmaritalbirths are first births. The childbearing is the same as pre childbearing, that is, childbearing by awoman who has never been married. Theis that nonmaritalis that, although black andwomen have experienced the greatestbeen abandoned by the child's father. Theing. Currently, almost 40 percent ofthe birth. In addition, even when couples has stabilized. At this point, it is difficult tomarital childbearing to continue. The federalbetter environments for children. Some mem-sanctity of marriage. Still others want toand behavioral problems. Research findingsin families that meet all of these criteria, andstances develop well. Thus, future researchcenter that studies children and families. ForVentura SJ, & Bachrach CA. Nonmarital childbearing in theUnited States, 1940-99. National vital statistics reports; vol 48 no16. Hyattsville, Maryland: National Center for Health Statistics.Ventura, SJ. National Center for Health Statistics unpublishedHenshaw, S. Unintended Pregnancy in the United States. FamilyBumpass, L, and Lu, H. Trends in cohabitation and implicationsSeltzer, JA. Families Formed Outside of Marriage. Journal ofbia University. Fragile Families Brief, "Dispelling Myths AboutMarch 1998 (Update), and earlier reports, MS-1. Marital status ofAbma, J, Chandra A, Mosher W, Peterson L, & Piccinino L. Fer-1995 National Survey of Family Growth. National Center forWertheimer, R, Jager, J, & Moore, KA. State policy initiativesning to family caps. New Federalism Issues and Options forCall, V. Nonmarital childbearing among adult women. Journal ofBennett, NG, Bloom, DE, & Miller, CK. The influence of non- Hoffman, S.D., & Foster, E.M. Economic correlates of nonmari-tal childbearing among adult women. Family Planning Perspec-Bane, MJ, & Ellwood, DT. Slipping into and out of poverty: TheAquilino, WS. The life course of children born to unmarriedWu, LL. Effects of family instability, income, and income stabili-ty on the risk of a premarital birth. American Sociological Review, Washington, DC 20008 U.S. POSTAGEPAIDPermit No. 1897Washington, D.C.