The Role and Status of Women and the Timing of Marriage in Five Asian Countries

This study explores the relationship of women’s role and status in society to their marriage timing in five non-industrial Asian countries (Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Malaysia). The role and status of women, conceptualized from acquired characteristics such as education and occupation before marriage, determines the largest degree of variance explained in ti ming of marriage. Even after socio-economic and ethno-religious variables are statistically controlled, the net effects of women’s education and occupation on age at marriage are found to be positive and substantial in magnitude. Additional evidence indicates that country differences in female age at marriage are also conditioned by the stage of a country’s socio-economic transition.