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“Ethnic Variations in Characteristics of First Unions” 185
In contrast, although South Asian countries have also
experienced declining marriage rates over the past few decades
(Jones, 2005), non-marriage by choice is still not considered
normative and is often seen as failing in one’s filial duty in countries
like Vietnam (Williams & Guest, 2005). Marriage is still virtually
universal, particularly for men (East-West Center, 2002).
Furthermore, prior research has indicated that South and Southeast
Asian men and women generally marry earlier than their peers in
East Asia, which is characterized by dramatically delayed marriages
in the twenties and foregone marriages at older ages (Jones &
Gubhaju, 2009). In the Philippines, although proportions of
never-married men and women in their thirties have increased since
1960, the percentage of never-married population between the ages
45-49 has remained relatively stable at 4-7% for nearly half a
century (Jones, 2005). Marriages are largely delayed but not
foregone in the Philippines. Co-residential unions have been on the
rise for recent young cohorts of Filipino men and women. Analysis
of the 2002 Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality Study reveals that
about 58% of those aged 25-27 years old have cohabited at least
once (Williams et al., 2007). Non-marital births have soared to a
striking 50% in 2014 (Philippine Statistics Authority, 2016).
As early marriage is not as common as it used to be in most
regions of East and South Asia (Williams & Guest, 2005), it can be
expected that immigrants from these regions will also experience
changes in family values and what they consider as ideal timing for
union formation. The distinct socioeconomic profiles of East and
South Asian Americans are then crucial to determining which
groups remain more traditional than others, given that individuals
with more education tend to be more secular and more receptive to
new values and attitudes during the demographic transition process
(Lesthaeghe & van de Kaa, 1986). On the other hand, demographic
indicators show that family changes have been observed among
young Filipinos, though the scope of behavioral shifts in marriage is
not as dramatic as those found in advanced East Asian economies;