Een ruil tussen de seksen? Leeftijdsverschillen tussen mannen en vrouwen binnen samenwoonrelaties

Samenvatting

The Netherlands are no exception to the well-known observation that, on average, men marry young women. Less is known about which couples are more likely to differ in age than others. In this study I examine the variation in age-differences between Dutch couples (married or cohabiting), using data from the survey 'Households in the Netherlands 1995'. The results support theories that connect age-differences to differences in earning power between men and women: couples deviating from the male-earner pattern are more likely to deviate from the husband-older age-pattern. Generally, traditionality (as indicated by marrying without cohabiting first, and by large parental age-differences) is negatively associated with deviations from the male-older pattern. Also, a higher education of the partners fosters age-differences in favour of the wife. Marriage market structure is evident in differential opportunity for meeting same-aged partners. Having gone to the schools, for example. negatively affects large age-differences in favour of the male partner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]; Copyright of Mens en Maatschappij is the property of Amsterdam University Press and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)