This paper draws on recent national survey data for the Philippines to examine changes in multiple indicators of the union formation and sexual systems, and then describes the social distributions of various aspects of those behaviors. Some features of the pattern echo the 'second demographic transition' as reported in many other parts of the globe. This includes rising levels of premarital sex and cohabitation, but notably excludes the virtual collapse of family-building as seen in many other societies. The paper classifies the main types of union formation pattern at national scale for each of the sexes, and then disaggregates into the social distribution of each component of the overall pattern. This disaggregation is carried out in a framework defined by the cells of a socioeconomic grid based on simple urban versus rural residence and schooling dimensions. Employing this grid it is shown that the various components of the overall union and sexual system have contrasting social distributions which hint at the underlying processes involved. The analysis provides both a measurement approach suitable for large scale household surveys and a set of turn-of-the-century empirical benchmarks that will support ongoing surveybased monitoring of these important patterns.
Important events in the transition to adulthood are examined for young men and women in six Asian societies. Broad description of the pattern of many events is followed by a detailed consideration of event-sequences among school-leaving, home-leaving and entrance to marriage. The recent Asian experience is set against recent patterns in Western societies, and broad similarities and differences are noted. In both sets of countries there is clear evidence of significant delay in the key transitional events, many of which are being pushed into the third decade of life. Also in both regions there is evidence of a high demographic density of events in the central years of transition. The standardization of individual event distributions may not be occurring in the Asian countries examined, but there is clear evidence of individuation or a rising diversity of sequences or paths taken. Suggestions are offered regarding themes for future research on Asian adulthood transitions, in light of ongoing, market-led globalization.
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