ABSTRACT: This article examines the age at first marriage among a series of temporally defined marriage cohorts spanning the period 1909 to 1983 for the civilian inhabitants of the Rock of Gibraltar. The pattern of late marriage among Gibraltarians remained relatively stable until a stage of siege' was imposed by Spain. The reduction in matrimonial age is explored in terms of a host of factors, including a significant rise in the number of women entering the labour force, a reduction in spatially exogamous unions with Spain, and increased feasibility of marriage because of rises in income levels.
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