Findings:
In Romania, births outside of marriage have increased since the 1960s.
Approximately one-third of the 155,000 newborns in Romania in 2023 were born outside of marriage.
Economic independence of women contributes to this trend.
Acceptance of this cultural shift varies across countries.
Key Takeaway:
Non-marital births are a significant demographic phenomenon in Romania.
Trend:
The proportion of non-marital births has risen over time.
Conclusions: implications of the increasing trend of births outside of marriage for society:
Social attitudes and economic factors play a role in shaping family structures.
Policies and support systems need to adapt to changing family dynamics.
The rising trend of births outside of marriage is indeed influenced by several factors, including decreasing marriage rates and the prevalence of cohabitation. Let’s explore this further:
Declining Marriages:
Over the past few decades, the number of formal marriages has declined in many countries.
Couples are increasingly choosing to delay or forgo marriage altogether.
Cohabitation:
Cohabiting couples (unmarried partners living together) have become more common.
Births within cohabiting households now occur without the stigma associated with being “unwed.”
Changing Attitudes:
Social norms have shifted, and having children outside of formal marriage is no longer scandalous.
Couples establish households together, whether married or not.
International Trends:
In the European Union, 42% of births were outside marriage in 2018, signaling new family formation patterns.
Countries like Sweden, Iceland, and Belgium lead in nonmarital childbearing.
Impact on Birth Rates:
Some countries with low birth rates have seen an increase in nonmarital births.
The “marriage first, babies second” approach may affect overall birth rates.
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