Au vu des mesures prises par notre Université pour faire face à une situation exceptionnelle, nous annulons nos midis de la recherche de cette année académique.

Hideko Matsuo (KU Leuven)

Spousal age gaps in Northern Belgium:
Early 19th to early 20th century

This research examines the evolution of spousal age differences in Northern Belgium from early 19th to early 20th century (1800-1913). We examine socio-economic, demographic and geographic profiles of (re)married couples across marriage order and gender. With presence of industrialization, urbanization, and to some extent, secularization, Western European Malthusian marriage pattern (EMP) was challenged by observing declining ages at first marriage and decreasing proportions never-married. Partner selection criteria changed from instrumental to a more emotional view of marriage. Such development is reflected in the rise of age-homogamy patterns for first marriages. Unlike age- homogamy patterns among the first marriages in the second half of 19th century, higher proportions of age-heterogamy among the remarried are expected. Age-homogamy for first marriage was followed more in cities but least in religious municipalities and among bridegroom farmers. We expect more age-heterogamy and older bridegroom relationship among the remarried, because of varying selection and marriage opportunities.