General Article Over half of children in England and Wales are now born to unmarried parents – overturning a history

Topic Selected: Families and Parenting Book Volume: 417

Over half of children in England and Wales are now born to unmarried parents – overturning a history of stigma and discrimination

Kate Gibson, University of Manchester

In 2021, more babies – 51% – were born to unmarried mothers in England and Wales than to those in a marriage or civil partnership for the first time since records began in 1845. This is a huge change. For centuries, “illegitimacy” and unmarried parenthood has been associated with stigma, shame and disadvantage.

The civil regis...

Would you like to see the rest of this article and all the other benefits that Issues Online can provide with?

Sign up now for a no obligation FREE TRIAL and view the entire collection