The focus is on methodological ways of getting at women's own experiences. In view of the new patterns brought about by urbanization, demographic variables, specially those related to marital status, do not allow a full understanding of the diversity of situations.
Celibacy covers a range of situations.
The increase of female celibacy is not only a consequence of later first marriage, but also reflects profound changes in urban societies. Analysis of the market shows imbalances that account for the emergence of new women's statuses. Also when women have an income that allows them to hire labour, they rely more on hired labour and on purchasing needed commodities rather than on their children's labour contributions. Thus, not only are children costly but also mothers' demand for children diminishes since they no longer rely solely on their children. The increased economic autonomy gained through factory employment and wages has contributed to increased female autonomy in important life decisions such as marriage timing and choice of spouse, and in time, will also be manifest in family formation and fertility as well.