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Women’s changing socioeconomic position and union formation in Spain and Portugal

Author

Listed:
  • Marta Dominguez Folgueras

    (Observatoire Sociologique du Changement (OSC))

  • Teresa Castro Martín

    (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC))

Abstract

Economic and sociological theories of marriage have long emphasized the impact of women’s education and employment on union formation. In this study, we explore the relevance of the female economic independence hypothesis to explain women’s patterns of entry into marriage and cohabitation in Portugal and Spain. In these two Southern European countries, gender equity has improved remarkably in the public sphere, but family relations remain structured along traditional gender roles. We focus on three indicators of women’s autonomy: educational attainment, employment status and having lived independently from the family of origin. The analysis is based on the Fertility and Family Surveys and discrete-time multinomial logistic regression models are used to estimate the odds of marrying, cohabiting or remaining single. The results suggest that whereas the effect of female education is consistent with the independence hypothesis, women’s labour force participation encourages union formation, particularly among younger cohorts. Living independently from the family of origin reduces the likelihood of entering marriage but increases considerably the odds of cohabiting.

Suggested Citation

  • Marta Dominguez Folgueras & Teresa Castro Martín, 2008. "Women’s changing socioeconomic position and union formation in Spain and Portugal," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 19(41), pages 1513-1550.
    • Handle: RePEc:dem:demres:v:19:y:2008:i:41
    DOI: 10.4054/DemRes.2008.19.41
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Rhiannon Kroeger & Reanne Frank & Kammi Schmeer, 2015. "Educational Attainment and Timing to First Union Across Three Generations of Mexican Women," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 34(3), pages 417-435, June.
    2. Megan Sweeney & Teresa Castro Martín & Melinda Mills, 2015. "The reproductive context of cohabitation in comparative perspective," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 32(5), pages 147-182.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    cohabitation; education; employment; marriage; Spain; union formation; women's status; independence hypothesis; South Europe; Portugal;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J1 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics
    • Z0 - Other Special Topics - - General

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