Settlement trajectories in rural eastern Belgium in the nineteenth century.
Oris, Michel
Settlement trajectories in rural eastern Belgium in the nineteenth century. - 2024.
52
Unlike event history analysis, which is based on a hypothetical-deductive approach, sequence analysis has a holistic ambition and allows for “data mining” with few preconceptions. Still little used in historical demography, it is particularly appropriate to reveal the structures of a life stage composed of several events, such as the transition to adulthood. Of course, this method also has limitations, which are discussed. Taking them into account, this article studies the settlement trajectories of men and women in the nineteenth century in two rural areas of eastern Belgium. These two regions were characterized by highly restricted access to marriage, with rates of marriage among the lowest in Europe at that time. The rural communities maintained the essence of their way of life until the beginning of the twentieth century. Examining these constrained contexts, the analysis highlights the diversity of trajectories taken to become a parent of a legitimate child, and thus contribute to the reproduction of rooted families. It also reveals the importance of multigenerational cohabitation phases in a fundamentally nuclear family system, and the surprising prevalence of illegitimacy, which was one of the risk factors affecting the sustainability of the settlement. Finally, it shows the existence of a strong minority that quickly overcame all obstacles.
Settlement trajectories in rural eastern Belgium in the nineteenth century. - 2024.
52
Unlike event history analysis, which is based on a hypothetical-deductive approach, sequence analysis has a holistic ambition and allows for “data mining” with few preconceptions. Still little used in historical demography, it is particularly appropriate to reveal the structures of a life stage composed of several events, such as the transition to adulthood. Of course, this method also has limitations, which are discussed. Taking them into account, this article studies the settlement trajectories of men and women in the nineteenth century in two rural areas of eastern Belgium. These two regions were characterized by highly restricted access to marriage, with rates of marriage among the lowest in Europe at that time. The rural communities maintained the essence of their way of life until the beginning of the twentieth century. Examining these constrained contexts, the analysis highlights the diversity of trajectories taken to become a parent of a legitimate child, and thus contribute to the reproduction of rooted families. It also reveals the importance of multigenerational cohabitation phases in a fundamentally nuclear family system, and the surprising prevalence of illegitimacy, which was one of the risk factors affecting the sustainability of the settlement. Finally, it shows the existence of a strong minority that quickly overcame all obstacles.
Réseaux sociaux