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Title: Creating an 'American' marriage pattern: Ethnic, Generational and Cohort Variation in Union Formantion in the Mid-Twentieth Century

Citation Type: Conference Paper

Publication Year: 2004

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Abstract: In the early 1900s, white ethnic Americans exhibited disparate marriage patterns that greatly concerned social commentators. This paper examined whether white ethnics assumed the nuptiality tempo of the native-stock population, focusing on generational and period effects. We use data from the 1960 Census IPUMS to obtain information on cohorts born between 1901 and 1930. Event history analysis enables us to explore ethnic and generational patterns of entrance into first marriage. We next assess period effects on marriage timing. Results indicate that among white ethnics marriage timing shifted across generations to more closely approximate the union formation patterns of nativestock whites; nonetheless, significant ethnic differences remained. Results are discussed in light of their meaning for assimilation and theories of union formation.

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Authors: Sassler, Sharon; Cardella, Michael

Conference Name: Population Association of America

Publisher Location: Boston, MA

Data Collections: IPUMS USA

Topics: Family and Marriage, Race and Ethnicity

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