The average age at first marriage has been increasing in Asia over decades. Though this phenomenon is worldwide, it is more prominent in Asia. Related to timing of marriage is family structure. The outlook of Asian families has been changing alongside the timing of marriage. This paper will explore various trends that affect timing of marriage and structure of families.
Socio-economic variables like education and religion have important impact on the timing of marriage and timing of marriage (Quah 7). However, it is important to note that these factors are not universal across the continent. Asia is vast continent with various cultural and religious groups.
Education is by far the influential factor. Education influences marriage both directly and indirectly. Educated Asians tend to delay marriage regardless of gender. However, other gender related factors influence how people view marriage. Young people in Asia may decide to delay marriage in order to enjoy government subsidies.
Available resources are limited and people could wish to pursue education first before they settle down. In addition, many young people may find it hard to balance the demands of married life with those of studying. Young people find it easy delaying marriage up to a time in future when they have completed their education.
Educated women tend to delay marriage as compared to their less educated counterparts. This may be attributed to the fact that education enables women to break away from the traditional mindset. Traditionally, most cultures expected women to be married early to a man of her parents’ choice. Education has enabled both men and women to choose their own spouses based on personal values sand expectations.
Previously women were expected to perform domestic chores while men were expected to be the providers. This greatly restricted women’s access to formal employment. To overcome this challenge many women opted to delay marriage until such a time when they have established carriers. Others may opt not to get married at all. This is related to the fact that women are expected to take care of their families after work.
Education also provides economic empowerment to women. Women who are educated are more likely to have well paying jobs than women with little or no education at all. In most parts of Asia, women are increasingly being empowered through education. In some parts women literacy levels is almost equal to that of men. Since employed women can provide for themselves, economic gains previously attached to marriage have greatly disappeared.
Women are free to choose whether to and when get married. Therefore, economic empowerment is accompanied by freedom of choice. Economic outlook of individuals is a reflection of the overall economy of a country. In rich Asian countries like Japan and South Korea, women tend to delay marriage by a large margin as compared to their developing counterparts.
Education has also influenced the view on extended family. The extended family had profound influence on when a member of the family got married. Girls were married off early. On the flipside women’s education may affect men negatively. Less educated men may encounter difficulties in finding a mate.
Age at first marriage influences the number of children one is likely to get. Generally, people who get married late are likely to have few children (Jones 90. This is more applicable to women than men. This in turn affects the structure of the family. Focus has been shifting from how many children one has to the quality of life. People are likely to postpone marriage until when they are economically stable (Gubhaju 20). Single parent families have also become acceptable.
Economic difficulties also influence when people get married. Harsh economic realities have made many men to delay marriage (Bajracharya & Amin 3). The society expects men to provide for their families. Young men have opted to delay marriage due to unemployment. However, this is true in the rest of the world and is not confined to Asia.
Marriage in Asia was almost universal in the past. Marriage was very important to the extended family. It was believed that one could only achieve maximum satisfaction and self-realization through marriage. It was desirable to get married because those who did not get married were regarded as outcasts and occupied a low social status.
One had to get into marriage in order to be taken seriously. This affected both men and women almost equally. In the recent past, liberal views have infiltrated societies. People no longer consider marriage to be an integral part of self-realization. People can choose not to get married and not suffer social consequences associated with singlehood. In addition, Asian societies are increasingly becoming capitalist in nature.
Religion has influenced both the timing of marriage and the birth rate. Though, some religious ideologies have been blamed for increased early and increased birth rates in some places, it has played a role in delay of marriage and reduction of birth rate in some areas. Asian religions are very strict and do not tolerate sex before or outside marriage. Therefore, young people who choose to delay marriage are not allowed to engage in any sexual activities.
Religion imposes chastity and sometimes celibacy on them. Some religions have allowed the use of contraception in marriage to prevent unwanted pregnancies. Some religions in Asia recruit some young men who are expected to be celibate for life. However, there is no proof that religious content has messages intended to urge followers to get married early or to delay marriage.
Therefore, it can be argued that religion has very little influence on the timing of marriage. Much of what is being experienced in Asia is expected in an educated and developed society. The changes may be consequences of either education or globalization. However, the changes are not experienced in a similar manner across the continent.
The timing of marriage in Asia has been changing over the years. Young people in Asia have either delayed marriage or opted not to marry at all. Delay in marriage has reduced the average size of a family in Asia. This can be attributed to socioeconomic factors like education. Rising education level among women has enabled them to choose when to get married sand who to get married to. Women no longer rely on men to provide for them.
Less educated men have encountered difficulties in finding mates thus forcing them to delay marriage. Religion also influences birth rate. Religious rules are applied strictly. Intercourse outside marriage is prohibited. Other religions impose celibacy on selected individuals. Most religions do not advocate for the use of contraception. There is no evidence suggesting that religious content is responsible for reduced birth rate.
Works Cited
Bajracharya, Ashish & Sajeda, Amin. 2010. Poverty, Marriage Timing, and Transitions to Adulthood in Nepal: A Longitudinal Analysis Using the Nepal Living Standards Survey. Web.
Gubhaju, Bhakta. “Fertility Decline in Asia: Opportunities and Challenges.” The Japanese Journal of Population. 5.1(2007): 19-42. Web.
Jones, Gavin. “Late marriage and low fertility in Singapore: the limits of policy 1.” The Japanese Journal of Population.10.1 (2012): 89-101. Web.
Quah, Stella. 2003. Major Trends Affecting Families in East and Southeast Asia. PDF file. Web.