The proper age to marry: social norms and behavior in nineteenth-century Netherlands.

Publisher: JAI Press Inc Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 9890099 Publication Model: Print Cited Medium: Print ISSN: 1081-602X (Print) Linking ISSN: 1081602X NLM ISO Abbreviation: Hist Fam

Original Publication: Greenwich, Conn. : JAI Press Inc., c1996-

Attitude* ; Marriage* ; Psychology* ; Social Behavior* ; Social Class* ; Social Values*; Behavior ; Developed Countries ; Economics ; Europe ; Netherlands ; Socioeconomic Factors

"The article compares publicly discussed norms concerning the proper age at marriage for men and women in nineteenth-century Netherlands, and the actual trends present in the empirical evidence about marriage age. Medical professionals (the hygienists) expressed the belief that marriage at too young an age was damaging both to public hygiene and the family's health; other commentators stressed the connection between young marriages and poverty. Yet such norms were put forward vaguely, allowing other influences on marriage age to come into play. Consequently, data on marital behavior suggest considerable diversity in the population, with age at marriage varying strongly by class, sex, and region. Generally, age at marriage did not begin to fall until the period 1860-1870, and even after that decade class differences remained strong."
(excerpt)

Indexing Agency: IND Local ID #: RH97049. Indexing Agency: POP Local ID #: 00286816.
Keywords: Attitude*; Behavior; Developed Countries; Economic Factors; Europe; Historical Survey*; Marriage; Marriage Age*; Marriage Patterns; Netherlands; Nuptiality; Psychological Factors; Psychosocial Factors*; Social Behavior*; Social Class*; Socioeconomic Factors; Socioeconomic Status*; Value Orientation*; Western Europe
Note: TJ: HISTORY OF THE FAMILY

Date Created: 20020926 Date Completed: 19991001 Latest Revision: 20191106

20240829

10.1016/s1081-602x(99)80265-6

12295222