General Social Survey, 1988 - Analysis
FEMARRY
If you were advising a young woman, which of the following ways of life would you recommend? 1. To live alone without a steady partner; 2. To live with a steady partner, without marrying; 3. To live with a steady partner for a while, and then marry; 4. To marry without living together first?
| Frequency | Percent | Cumulative Percent | Z-Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1) To live alone, without a steady partner | 131 | 9.3% | 9.3% | -1.55 |
| 2) To live with a steady partner, without marrying | 37 | 2.6% | 11.9% | -1.04 |
| 3) To live with a steady partner for a while, and then marry | 372 | 26.3% | 38.2% | -0.53 |
| 4) To marry without living together first | 652 | 46.1% | 84.3% | -0.03 |
| 8) Can't choose | 197 | 13.9% | 98.2% | 2.01 |
| 9) No answer | 25 | 1.8% | 100.0% | 2.51 |
| Missing | 67 | |||
| Total Unweighted N = 1414 |
Sex (I-SEX)
| Male | Female | Missing | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| To live alone, without a steady partner | 8.3%51 | 10.0%80 | 0 | 9.3%131 |
| To live with a steady partner, without marrying | 3.3%20 | 2.1%17 | 0 | 2.6%37 |
| To live with a steady partner for a while, and then marry | 29.6%181 | 23.8%191 | 0 | 26.3%372 |
| To marry without living together first | 43.2%264 | 48.3%388 | 0 | 46.1%652 |
| Can't choose | 13.9%85 | 13.9%112 | 0 | 13.9%197 |
| No answer | 1.6%10 | 1.9%15 | 0 | 1.8%25 |
| Missing | 27 | 40 | 67 | 0 |
| Total | 100%611 | 100%803 | 1414 |
Religion (I-RELIGION)
| Protestant | Catholic | Jewish | None | Other | Missing | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| To live alone, without a steady partner | 9.3%81 | 8.7%32 | 7.4%2 | 10.0%11 | 12.5%5 | 0 | 9.3%131 |
| To live with a steady partner, without marrying | 1.6%14 | 2.7%10 | 7.4%2 | 7.3%8 | 7.5%3 | 0 | 2.6%37 |
| To live with a steady partner for a while, and then marry | 22.0%191 | 29.5%109 | 40.7%11 | 45.5%50 | 27.5%11 | 0 | 26.3%372 |
| To marry without living together first | 52.3%454 | 42.8%158 | 25.9%7 | 16.4%18 | 37.5%15 | 0 | 46.1%652 |
| Can't choose | 13.0%113 | 14.1%52 | 18.5%5 | 20.9%23 | 10.0%4 | 0 | 13.9%197 |
| No answer | 1.7%15 | 2.2%8 | 0.0%0 | 0.0%0 | 5.0%2 | 0 | 1.8%25 |
| Missing | 38 | 15 | 3 | 8 | 3 | 67 | 0 |
| Total | 100%868 | 100%369 | 100%27 | 100%110 | 100%40 | 1414 |
Age (I-AGE)
| 18-25 yrs | 26-35 yrs | 36- 50 yrs | 51-69 yrs | 70+ yrs | Missing | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| To live alone, without a steady partner | 11.9%24 | 4.3%14 | 7.3%28 | 13.2%42 | 12.4%23 | 0 | 9.3%131 |
| To live with a steady partner, without marrying | 5.5%11 | 3.7%12 | 2.6%10 | 0.9%3 | 0.5%1 | 0 | 2.6%37 |
| To live with a steady partner for a while, and then marry | 39.3%79 | 40.3%131 | 29.1%111 | 10.7%34 | 8.1%15 | 2 | 26.2%370 |
| To marry without living together first | 25.9%52 | 35.7%116 | 44.8%171 | 62.8%199 | 60.8%113 | 1 | 46.1%651 |
| Can't choose | 16.9%34 | 14.5%47 | 15.2%58 | 10.1%32 | 14.0%26 | 0 | 14.0%197 |
| No answer | 0.5%1 | 1.5%5 | 1.0%4 | 2.2%7 | 4.3%8 | 0 | 1.8%25 |
| Missing | 9 | 16 | 16 | 11 | 14 | 70 | 1 |
| Total | 100%201 | 100%325 | 100%382 | 100%317 | 100%186 | 1411 |
Region (I-REGION)
| New England | North Central | South & Mid Atlantic | South Central | Mountain/Pacific | Missing | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| To live alone, without a steady partner | 12.8%10 | 10.2%40 | 10.0%45 | 8.5%20 | 6.2%16 | 0 | 9.3%131 |
| To live with a steady partner, without marrying | 3.8%3 | 1.8%7 | 3.6%16 | 0.9%2 | 3.5%9 | 0 | 2.6%37 |
| To live with a steady partner for a while, and then marry | 32.1%25 | 24.8%97 | 28.2%127 | 20.9%49 | 28.5%74 | 0 | 26.3%372 |
| To marry without living together first | 35.9%28 | 46.5%182 | 42.0%189 | 55.3%130 | 47.3%123 | 0 | 46.1%652 |
| Can't choose | 14.1%11 | 15.6%61 | 13.6%61 | 13.6%32 | 12.3%32 | 0 | 13.9%197 |
| No answer | 1.3%1 | 1.0%4 | 2.7%12 | 0.9%2 | 2.3%6 | 0 | 1.8%25 |
| Missing | 2 | 16 | 24 | 4 | 21 | 67 | 0 |
| Total | 100%78 | 100%391 | 100%450 | 100%235 | 100%260 | 1414 |
Education (I-EDUC)
| Less than high school | High school | 4 years college | More than 4 years college | Missing | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| To live alone, without a steady partner | 10.2%15 | 12.0%80 | 5.8%28 | 6.9%8 | 0 | 9.3%131 |
| To live with a steady partner, without marrying | 2.0%3 | 2.7%18 | 2.9%14 | 1.7%2 | 0 | 2.6%37 |
| To live with a steady partner for a while, and then marry | 9.5%14 | 27.2%181 | 28.4%137 | 34.5%40 | 0 | 26.4%372 |
| To marry without living together first | 60.5%89 | 44.1%293 | 46.0%222 | 39.7%46 | 2 | 46.1%650 |
| Can't choose | 15.6%23 | 12.0%80 | 15.3%74 | 16.4%19 | 1 | 13.9%196 |
| No answer | 2.0%3 | 2.0%13 | 1.7%8 | 0.9%1 | 0 | 1.8%25 |
| Missing | 11 | 23 | 29 | 4 | 70 | 0 |
| Total | 100%147 | 100%665 | 100%483 | 100%116 | 1411 |
Marital status (I-MARITAL)
| Never married | Married | Widowed/Divorced/Separated | Missing | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| To live alone, without a steady partner | 11.1%31 | 8.6%65 | 9.3%35 | 0 | 9.3%131 |
| To live with a steady partner, without marrying | 4.3%12 | 1.5%11 | 3.7%14 | 0 | 2.6%37 |
| To live with a steady partner for a while, and then marry | 39.6%111 | 22.4%169 | 24.3%92 | 0 | 26.3%372 |
| To marry without living together first | 23.9%67 | 54.6%413 | 45.5%172 | 0 | 46.1%652 |
| Can't choose | 19.3%54 | 11.6%88 | 14.6%55 | 0 | 13.9%197 |
| No answer | 1.8%5 | 1.3%10 | 2.6%10 | 0 | 1.8%25 |
| Missing | 18 | 32 | 17 | 67 | 0 |
| Total | 100%280 | 100%756 | 100%378 | 1414 |
