Two aspects of teenage fertility are examined in this paper: (1) teenage fertility, in general, does not follow the conventional family formation process in which conception follows marriage; and (2) there are considerable differences between White and non-White teenagers in proportions either pregnant outside of marriage or single at delivery.…

This study was conducted to test the following notions: (1) blacks are less committed to the norm of legitimacy and; (2) black women have less reason and desire than white women to marry--whether or not they are unmarried mothers. The data are drawn from a questionnaire administered to 704 obstetrical patients, 81 percent of whom were black.…

Presents comparative racial data on unwed mothers concerning disposition of offspring and their own marital decisions, and interprets findings in context of more general discussion of marriage reasons among women. Portions of paper presented at Society for the Study of Social Problems, Montreal, 1964. (Author/CJ)

Analysis of four national cross-sectional fertility surveys, 1955-84, documents the decreasing likelihood that single women pregnant with their first child will marry to legitimate the birth. Among recent cohorts, decision to marry was influenced by woman's expectations about the timing of marriage and parenthood, living arrangements, academic…

This article discusses trends in the occurrence of out-of-wedlock births and factors which contribute to or are associated with illegitimate pregnancies. Specifically discussed are the rates of increase of such births, particularly among unmarried teenage mothers, and the ethnic, social, and psychological characteristics of unwed mothers. It is…

THE "TANGLE OF PATHOLOGY" IN THE NEGRO GHETTO AND THE FAMILY'S ROLE IN IT ARE ADAPTATIONS TO CONDITIONS CREATED BY A DOMINANT WHITE CASTE. THE NEGRO "VICTIMIZES" HIMSELF AND OTHER NEGROES, A PROCESS SEEN MOST CLEARLY WITHIN THE FAMILY IN WHICH THE VICTIMIZATION PROCESS BOTH PREPARES THE INDIVIDUAL FOR GHETTO LIFE AND IMPEDES FUNCTIONING IN OTHER…

Focusing on the pre-adolescent to late-adolescent portion of the life cycle, research examined how "early" exit from student role and "early" entry into adult roles of parent or spouse reflects factors operating prior to adolescence. Interviews during 1969 with 1,202 fifth and sixth graders and their mothers in 6 southern…

Contends that, in the public's perception, much of adolescents' trouble today can be traced to deterioration in the quality of family life. Reports on a study of education completion and marriage. Finds that females living with mothers only, who complete their senior year in high school, actually have higher educational attainment and later…