Trends in assortative mating in the United States, 1700-1910: evidence from FamiLinx data
Corti, Giulia (Centre d'Estudis Demogràfics)
Minardi, Saverio (Università di Bologna)
Barban, Nicola (Università di Bologna)
Centre d'Estudis Demogràfics

Date:	2024
Abstract:	Couple formation and assortative mating significantly influence societal structures, as marriages between individuals from diverse geographical or social backgrounds promote intra-family diversity. Understanding these patterns is crucial for grasping the demographic processes that shape contemporary societies. However, the scarcity of comprehensive data has impeded progress in this area. This paper aims to fill this gap by investigating assortative mating trends in the United States among birth cohorts from 1700 to 1910, utilizing data from FamiLinx, an online crowdsourced genealogical database. We focus on two primary dimensions: migration background (including natives, first and second-generation migrants) and age at marriage. Our analysis yields three major findings. First, we document significant changes in assortative mating trends over time, reflecting the dynamic nature of mate selection and its responsiveness to societal shifts. Second, we uncover substantial heterogeneity in assortative mating patterns across different social groups, indicating varying social dynamics and preferences. Third, we illustrate how these trends can be differently interpreted depending on whether the perspective is individual or familial. Additionally, we explore the advantages and limitations of using online genealogical data for historical studies of assortative mating, highlighting its potential for offering new insights while acknowledging the challenges posed by data quality and representativeness.
Grants:	European Commission 865356
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, i la comunicació pública de l'obra, sempre que no sigui amb finalitats comercials, i sempre que es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original. No es permet la creació d'obres derivades.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Subject:	Assortative mating ; Online genealogical data ; Historical demography ; United States
Published in:	The History of the Family, Vol. 29, núm. 4 (Jun 2024) , p461-481, ISSN 1873-5398

DOI: 10.1080/1081602X.2024.2352539
PMID: 39564129

23 p, 4.2 MB

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