Preliminary Programme

Wed 11 April
    8.30 - 10.30
    11.00 - 13.00
    14.00 - 16.00
    16.30 - 18.30

Thu 12 April
    8.30 - 10.30
    11.00 - 13.00
    14.00 - 16.00
    16.00 - 18.30

Fri 13 April
    8.30 - 10.30
    11.00 - 13.00
    14.00 - 16.00
    16.30 - 18.30

Sat 14 April
    8.30 - 10.30
    11.00 - 13.00
    14.00 - 16.00
    16.30 - 18.30

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Wednesday 11 April 2012 11.00 - 13.00
C-2 FAM01 Historical Demography in Comparative Perspective: Marriage
Boyd Orr: Lecture Theatre C
Network: Family and Demography Chair: Mary Nagata
Organizer: Mary Nagata Discussant: Alice Reid
Nanna Floor Clausen, Hans Jørgen Marker : Did the Transformation of Denmark in the 19th Century Influence the Marriage Pattern and Age of First Marriage?
From 1801 to 1880 the Danish society was transformed in almost every way conceivable. The economic structure was radically changed, the territory and population was drastically reduced, the constitution became completely different, urbanization accelerated and many other changes took place. All together Denmark was transformed to a completely different country. ... (Show more)
From 1801 to 1880 the Danish society was transformed in almost every way conceivable. The economic structure was radically changed, the territory and population was drastically reduced, the constitution became completely different, urbanization accelerated and many other changes took place. All together Denmark was transformed to a completely different country. Marriage is the backbone in a traditional household and in this paper we want to analyse if and how the major changes in the society and economy did influence the marriage pattern over time in order to see the macro history reflected in micro history. Likewise we want to look into the development in rural and urban areas respectively to clarify to which extent there were differences between the family formation in the two parts of the country. We will furthermore analyse the age of first marriage across the century.
Marriage patterns have implications for the status of women, their health and fertility and consequently the gender perspective is important in all our analyses.
The analyses will make use of the fully transcribed censuses from 1801 to 1880/1885. These censuses which cover the entire Danish kingdom are a very powerful source supporting the analyses presented here and much more. This will be the first paper making use of the 1880 census for which the transcription has recently been completed and the cleaning and coding has just begun. (Show less)

Mimoza Dushi : Marriage: Need or Request?
According to the Leke Dukagjini’s Code, which functioned in traditional Albanian society in the XV century, marriage was considered as vital obligation and therefore was arranged by male family members, where women had no right to refuse. Otherwise, if she rejects the decision of elders of the family, she become ... (Show more)
According to the Leke Dukagjini’s Code, which functioned in traditional Albanian society in the XV century, marriage was considered as vital obligation and therefore was arranged by male family members, where women had no right to refuse. Otherwise, if she rejects the decision of elders of the family, she become a "virgin plotter" had no right to get married ever. At this time the main character of marriage, was the economic one, where the interests of male and female families were to find as families as they can.
In the second half of the twentieth century, when theoretically Albanian society has entered in the process of demographic transition after World War II, when the female start to be involved in the educational levels and economic processes, when she gained economic and individual security, began the first changes in the selection of future partner. These facts has opened it the greatest chance of direct meeting of young people and lighten the role of parents in decision-making, whose from now give just an approval.
Today, in the XXI century when the Albanian society is undergoing into a transition demographic phase faster than before, when female, family and society are going into emancipation quickly, the shape a character of marriage is changing. Now, the parents it is not that just do not have a decisive role in choosing the fate of the young people, but they agree even with cohabitation, as new forms of coexistence.

These changes except in social terms, has brought changes in demographic terms. Married couples are entering into marriage later and later realize the first births. Furthermore emotive function of the family has changed completely the marital life and the meaning of marriage in society. While in the past has started to work after marriage, now it is before it and is one of the main function for the realization of marriage.

Key words: woman, marriage, Albanian society (Show less)

Hilde L. Sommerseth : Consanguineous Marriage in Norway, Late 19th Century
Marriage between individuals who are closely related (consanguineous marriage) is common in many countries today, especially in the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia.
This type of marriage is also frequent among minorities in Norway, originating from those areas. During the past few years, there has been a lot ... (Show more)
Marriage between individuals who are closely related (consanguineous marriage) is common in many countries today, especially in the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia.
This type of marriage is also frequent among minorities in Norway, originating from those areas. During the past few years, there has been a lot of media attention and political debate related to the practice of consanguineous marriage in immigrant minority groups in Norway, particularly first-cousin marriage. The Norwegian Labour Party suggested in February 2011 as one of several initiatives to improve integration of minorities in Norway, to prohibit consanguineous marriages. Their arguments are supported by research showing that parental consanguinity increases the risk of stillbirth, infant death and congenital birth defects.

The debate has shown that Norwegians are generally quite reluctant to consanguineous marriage practice, and words like "inbreeding" and "disgrace" are used to make distance to something unfamiliar in Norwegian culture.

The Norwegian 1891 population census gives us first hand information about consanguineous marriage, and the variable has not yet been used in historical research. From 1891 onwards the church record registered whether or not the newly married were closely related.

Although consanguineous marriage is rarely present among people of Norwegian decent today, the above debate shows that we need more knowledge about marriage practices some few generations back in time.
This paper aims to explore the extent of consanguineous marriage in one rural and one urban area of Norway, starting in 1891. The paper will also address to what extent infant mortality in these two areas were affected by consanguineous marriage. (Show less)



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