Report of the Symposium on Demographic Aspects of the Changing Status of Women in Europe

Abstract

Professor Wunsch gave a summary of the main results of the seminar in The Hague. The phenomena of marriage and marriage dissolution have considerably changed since the 19th century. The ultimate proportion of singles has declined and the calendar has shifted to younger ages. Marriage dissolution was in the past largely due to a higher incidence of widowhood at lower ages than is now the case. During the last two decades divorce has increased in many countries. This is partly due to the occurrence of a higher proportion of divorces in the first years of marriage. The increase in divorce is caused by a change in the social climate and by changes in legislation. Women initiate divorce more frequently than men, for different reasons. Sex differences exist for remarriage too, but it is not clear if these differences are due to the availability of partners or to a different position of sexes on the remarriage market.