Ethnic Inter-Marriage in Addis Ababa Levels, Trends, and Differentials
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2010-06
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Addis Ababa University
Abstract
For a variety of reasons ethnic inter-marriage is considered as a signal of high level of soc ietal
ass imilation. The purpose of this cross-sect ional study is to assess the leve ls, trends, and
different ia ls in ethnic inter-marriage in Addis Ababa and whether such marriages experience
more divorce. The study is primarily based on secondary data (marriage records from 1984-
200 I E.C.). The total sample size is approximately 1,000 or I percent of 96,486 regi stered
marriages (sample frame) . Systematic sampling technique with proportion to population size
(PPS) is applied for sample size distribution along 18 consecutive years. In thi s study, efforts
have been made to answer four bas ic quest ions: (i).To what extent are ethnic groups intermarried?
(ii). Is there any change in ethnic inter-m arriage over time? (iii). What are the factors
associated with ethnic inter-marriage and how do ethn ic groups differ in this respect? (iv). Is
there any re lationship between eth nic inter-marriage and divorce in the study population? The
finding shows that nearly 40 percent of the study populati ons are ethnica lly inter-married. The
average annual growth rate in ethnic inter-marriage is about 0.3%. Even though there are some
irregularities in the incidence of ethnic inter-marriage, the general trend shows s lightly
increas ing tendency since 1984 E.C. Bes ides, the multivariate analys is indicates that the
like lihood of being ethnically inter-married is hi gher among Oromos and GUI'ages; Catholic
Christians and Protestants; non migrants; among people with no education, and older birth
cohorts (older generations). In genera l, the degree of variation in ethn ic in ter-marriage is found
to be assoc iated with migration status, eth nic background, religi on, level of education, and
birth cohorts of the study population. Fi nally, the bivariate analysis reveals that there is some
sort of re lati onship between ethn ic inter-marriage and divorce in the study populat ion which of
course needs further in-depth study.
Keywords: Ethnic inter-marriage, endogamous marriage, exogamous marriage, marital
assimilation, divorce
Description
Keywords
Ethnic inter-marriage, endogamous marriage, exogamous marriage, marital assimilation, divorce