1. Analysis of Ethnic Fertility Differentials through the Consideration of Assimilation

Partner Choice and the Transition to Parenthood for Second-Generation Women of Turkish and Moroccan Origin in Belgium

“…Whereas marrying within one's own ethnic group is interpreted as a reinforcement of group boundaries and consequently as a way to impede complete assimilation, intermarriage is seen as a manner to transcend group boundaries (Alba & Nee, 2003;Gordon, 1964;Kalmijn, 1998;Lucassen & Laarman, 2009;Qian & Lichter, 2007;Schwartz, 2013). If intermarriage is indeed the final stage of assimilation, then those who do not intermarry (and thus are less assimilated) are, according to the ideology hypothesis, the most likely to have the fertility patterns typical of the minority group (Beaujot et al, 1982).…”

“…The few studies that have looked at the interrelation between partner choice and childbearing have mainly focused on first-generation migrants in the United States, Canada or India (e.g., Axelrod, 1990;Beaujot et al, 1982;Fu, 2008;Shroff & Castro, 2011). Generally, these authors found fertility variation between endogamous and exogamous unions.…”

“…Second, we zoom in on the diversity within endogamous unions by considering the migrant generation of the partner. If the less assimilated members of a minority group do indeed identify themselves more strongly with their origin group, then those who are in an endogamous union with a first-generation partner are expected to incorporate the fertility norms of their group to a higher extent (Beaujot et al, 1982). Moreover, given the limited possibilities to enter Belgium from Turkey and Morocco, many first-generation endogamous partners migrate for the very reason of starting a family, and earlier studies already found higher first-birth rates among those who migrated for the purpose of a marriage (Andersson, 2004;Mulder & Wagner, 1993).…”