Non-marital pregnancy and the second demographic transition in Australia in historical perspective

摘要: BACKGROUNDAustralia has remarkably detailed data on non-marital pregnancy dating from 1908. They both offer insight into long-term trends in childbearing resulting sexual activity and reveal historical context key features of the second demographic transition its genesis.OBJECTIVETrends are traced rates conception children ultimately born outside within marriage. A range related indices is also presented examining how behaviour surrounding (i) helped generate (ii) unfolded as a component it.METHODSCore partitioned additive components associated with marital confinement. Data early births (at marriage durations 0-7 months) lagged back 38 weeks to date age at basis facilitate common, unmarried, population risk.RESULTSPost-war weakening parental oversight courtship was fundamental trigger broader rejection normative institutional values that underpinned transition. In tandem denying unmarried access oral contraception it generated rampant youthful pregnancy, which undermined Judeo-Christian values, especially once abortion law reform occurred.CONCLUSIONSChildbearing following transitioned rapidly after 1960s primarily unintended product intercourse non-coresidential relationships mainly intended reproductive ages consensual unions. Family formation increasingly mixed premaritally and/or maritally conceived births.COMMENTSAn earlier analysis Australia (Carmichael 1996) traversed entire period European settlement, commencing convict era (1788-1840). It did not focus transition, this updated does.1. IntroductionIn first English language exposition van de Kaa (1987: p. 7) highlighted an -large change norms attitudes" Western Europe between mid-1960s mid-1980s. This signalled rapid adoption much more individualistic outlook life, illustrated using survey for Netherlands. Among attitude changes demonstrated were huge increases over periods less than decade half acceptance relations couples who marry girl boy she -likes lot", voluntary childlessness, divorce still home, mothers school-age working, homosexuality, cohabitation no intent marry, living apart together. There had been marked decline belief married people generally happier single people.These sorts changes, variously labelled -reflexive modernization" (Beck, Giddens, Lash 1994) -social liberalism" (McDonald 2006), occurring simultaneously numerous developed countries including 1998), found expression variety indices. paper measures pertaining childbearing. derive available since 1908 tabulate annually confinements yielding live by mother duration mother. The latter break down months year marriage, allowing conceptions be estimated (as number eight marriage). Together, two sets just fertility but (non- or marital) activity. …