Marriage and Divorce

Abstract

This article discusses marriage, divorce, birth rates, and abortion in the USSR. Recent economic difficulties appear to have lead to a decrease in the marriage rate. Between 1985-87, the marriage rate stood at 9.8 marriages/1000 population, a figure that declined to 9.4 in 1988. Nonetheless, many Soviet couples continue to get married at a young age. Over 60% of all women who got married in 1988 were between 18-24. The USSR's divorce rate has followed a similar trend, falling from 3.5/1000 population in 1983 to 3.3 in 1988. The number of divorces, however, is still extremely high, with 1/3 of all marriages ending up in divorce. In urban centers, the phenomenon is even more common, with 1/2 all marriages terminating in divorce. The high rate of divorce is due to the fact that many Soviet women feel that they are treated unfairly by their husbands. Even though 90% of all women work outside the home, husbands still expect them to perform all the domestic chores. Economic difficulties have also led many women to opt for fewer children. In 1990, the birth rate in 1 Soviet republic dropped by 13%, forcing the government to close down 7 maternity hospitals. But despite the desire for fewer children, only about 13.3% of all women of childbearing age use a modern contraceptive, largely due to the lack of contraceptive availability. This as led to a very high number of abortions -- both legal and illegal. In 1990, the frequency of abortions was 137 abortions for every 100 live births. Although abortion is legal and inexpensive, many women still resort to illegal abortions, due to the fact that getting a legal abortion requires a long waiting period, and the fact that legal abortions are not treated with confidentiality.