11.2
Generational Attitudes
About Marriage and Children

Introduction

The latest generation to start ‘adulting’ are Millennials. The research presented is from the U.S. based Pew Research Center (and selected because it provides a clear visual representation of data), but all Canadian data suggests that we would respond similarly. Researchers have documented different attitudes about marriage and children. They are a romantic bunch! Most cite love, making a lifelong commitment, and companionship, as a “very important” reason for getting married. A majority of Millennials also want to have children. Millennials, however, are getting married and having children later than previous generations. Less than half of Millennials between the ages of 25-37 are married, compared to 67% of Baby Boomers (Bialik and Fry, 2019). Family size is also shrinking. Compared to previous generations, few families have three or four children.

How Millenials View Marriage and Children

• 70% of Millennials report wanting to get married. 25% aren’t sure and 5% don’t want to.
• 74% of Millennials report wanting to have children. 19% aren’t sure and 7% don’t want to.

Note: Based on ages 18-29, unmarried and without children, n=305.

(Taylor, P. & Wang, W., 2011)

When Millennials were asked their motivation for getting married:

• 88% said it was for love
• 81% said it was to make a lifelong commitment
• 76% said it was for companionship
• 49% said it was to have children
• 30% said it was to have their relationship recognized in a religious ceremony
• 28% said it was for financial stability
• 23% said it was for the legal rights and benefits

Source: Survey conducted May 10-13, 2013 (online poll).

(Geiger, A.W. & Livingston, G., 2019)

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Millennials are less likely to be married than previous generations at the same age. In the age brackets of 25 – 37 year olds,

• 46% of Millennials of that age are married (data from 2018)
• 57% of Gen Xers of that age are married (data from 2001)
• 62% of Late Boomers of that age are married (data from 1989)
• 67% of Early Boomers of that age are married (data from 1982)
• 83% of the Silent Generation of that age are married (data from 1968)

Source: Pew Research Center analysis of 1968, 1989, 2001 and 2018 Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplements (IPUMS).

(Bialik, K., & Fry, R., 2019)

 

What Explains Trends in Marriage and Having Children?

As ‘delightful’ as having children can be, a variety of social forces shape patterns of marriage and having children. First, younger generations are staying in school longer. Among Millennials, over 40% of women and 27% of men have obtained a B.A. (Bachelor of Arts) or higher.

Did you know: A large gap in postsecondary enrolment remains between youth from lower and higher income families. Non-financial factors, such as academic performance and parental education play a significant role. In 2016, 9% of men and 5% of women aged 25 to 34 had not completed high school, compared to 22% and 19%, respectively, in 1990. In 2011, 31% of Indigenous men and 25% of Indigenous men had not completed high school.

 

(Statistics Canada, 2018)

 

Youth are more educated than ever:

• 97% of 15 year olds attend school
• 5% of 21 year olds enroll in apprenticeship programs
• 24% of 19 year olds are in college
• 36% of 21 year olds are at university

Percentage of youth (25-34) with a college certificate/diploma or Bachelor’s degree:

• In 1990, 14% of men and 18% of women had a college certificate and 15% of men and 15% of women had a Bachelor’s degree.
• In 1997, 20% of men and 26% of women had a college certificate and 18% of men and 21% of women had a Bachelor’s degree.
• In 2007, 23% of men and 30% of women had a college certificate and 24% of men and 32% of women had a Bachelor’s degree.
• In 2017, 22% of men and 27% of women had a college certificate and 29% of men and 42% of women had a Bachelor’s degree.

(Statistics Canada, 2018)

Second, despite attaining higher levels of schooling, Millennials face an uncertain labour market. Extended schooling and rising educational requirements have meant that “[S]chool–work and youth–adult transitions became more prolonged, complex, and uncertain during the last decades of the 20th century” (Krahn, et al. 2015: 246). Young adults are now living with their parents longer and delay transitions that are commonly associated with entering adulthood, such as beginning full-time employment, marrying, and purchasing a home. In fact, 35% of 20- to 35-year-olds are still living with their parents (Statistics Canada. 2018).

Among Millennials, 39% of women and 47% of men report “not financially stable” as a major reason for not being currently married (Angus Reid Institute, 2018). The combination of “skyrocketing housing costs” and a “decline in job security” also make people “a little edgy about having children” (McDaniel, 2017, cited in Russell, 2017). 

And finally, not only do education and economic factors shape decision-making, around half of all generations say that “marriage is not necessary.” However, among those never married, more Millennials want to get married ‘someday.’ Thus, while they may not see marriage as ‘necessary’, a high proportion either want to get married (54%) or are “not sure” (31%). Only 15% say that they do not want to get married.

Reflect on how structural factors (lack of stable employment, inability to afford living outside family home, necessity of education credentials), cultural norms (broader societal norms about the necessity of marriage, and declining stigma about cohabitation), and individual agency (desire to pursue education options) intersect and shape patterns of marriage and having children (Angus Reid Institute, 2018).

Same-Sex and Interracial Marriage/Common-Law Relationships

(Parker, K., Graf, N., & Igielnik, R., 2019)

Attitudes about same-sex and interracial marriage vary across generations and around the world. About half of Gen Z and Millennials agree that same-sex and interracial marriage is “good” for society; a further 36% say that it “doesn’t make a difference”. A small percentage of any generation says that interracial marriage is “bad” thing for society. Stark differences emerge between generations about same-sex marriage. According to the Pew Research Center, 32% of Boomers, 25% of Gen X, and 15% of Millennials and Gen Zs say same-sex marriage is a “bad thing” for society. As we will discuss this week, this belief is empirically incorrect. Supporting (e.g., culturally, legally) a variety of ‘strong ties’ generates individual and societal benefits.

Note: Share of respondents who didn't offer an answer not shown.

Source: Surveys of U.S. adults ages 18 and older conducted Sept. 24-Oct. 7, 2018, and U.S. teens ages 13 to 17 conducted Sept. 17-Nov. 25, 2018. "Generation Z Looks a Lot Like Mellenials on Key Social and Political Issues.

(Parker, K., Graf, N., & Igielnik, R., 2019)