The Divorce of Marriage and Childbearing: Changing Attitudes and Behavior in the United States

Abstract

The aim of this analysis of attitudes toward nonmarital childbearing was to document trends in the restructuring of US attitudes and to document whether the determinants of attitudes have remained stable. Data for the multivariate analysis were obtained from the Virginia Slims American Womens Polls in 1974 1979 1985 and 1989 conducted by the Roper organization. The nationally representative sample of 4000 respondents (women were oversampled) assessed 3 attitudes on nonmarital childbearing (agreement with the legality of having children without getting married the acceptability of single women raising children and the acceptability of ones own child having a child outside marriage after finishing school. Control variables were college attendance Catholic affiliation employment status marital status race age and presence of children in the household. The findings indicate that there has been an increase in tolerance of nonmarital childbearing among both men and women since 1974. 43% agreed to 1989 that it should be legal for adults to have children without getting married. There was also a growing acceptance of ones own daughter having a child outside marriage; womens attitude on this item doubled while mens just increased. Both Blacks and Whites agreed with the legality item but the agreement of Blacks declined from 1985-89 while that of whites leveled off. Levels of acceptability were higher among Blacks than Whites. The age data suggest that the youngest age groups had the most tolerant opinions