إﻋﺪاد اﻟﻄﺎﻟﺒﺔ: اﻟﻌﻮض ﺳﻬﺎم ﻣﺤﻤﺪ ﻋﻠﻲ
إﺷــــــــﺮاف: د .هﺎرون ﻣﺤﻤﺪ ﻣﺤﺠﻮب
ﺑﺤﺚ ﻣﻘﺪﻡ ﻟﻨﻴﻞ ﺩ ﺍﻟﻨﻔﺲ ﺭﺟﺔ ﻣﺎﺟﺴﺘﻴﺮ ﺍﻵﺩﺍﺏ ﻓﻲ ﻋﻠﻢ
ﺍﻟﺨﻼﺼﺔ 2003-ﻡ2002 ﺃﺠﺭﻴﺕ ﻫﺫﻩ ﺍﻟﺩﺭﺍﺴﺔ ﻓﻲ ﺴﻨﺔ ، ﻡ ﻋﻠﻲ ﻤﺠﻤﻭﻋﺔ ﻤﺴﺘﻬﺩﻓﺔ ﻤﻥ ﺍﻟﺸﺒﺎﺏ ﻤﻥ ﺍﻟﺨﺒﺭﺍﺀ ﻭ ﺍﻟﻤﻬﺘﻤﻴﻥ ﺒﺎﻤﺭ ﺘﺎﺨﺭ ﺴﻥ ﺍﻟﺯﻭﺍﺝ ، ﺒﻭﻻﻴﺔ ﺍﻟﺨﺭﻁﻭﻡ ﻫﺩﻓﺕ ﻫﺫﻩ ﺍﻟﺩﺭﺍﺴﺔ ﺍﻟﻲ ﺍﻟﺘﻌﺭﻑ ﻋﻠﻲ ﺍﻟﺤﻘﺎﺌﻕ ﺍﻻﺴﺎﺴﻴﺔ ﺍﻟﺘﻲ ﺘﻭﺩﻱ ﺍﻟﻲ ﺘﺄﺨﺭ ﺴﻥ ﺍﻟﺯﻭﺍ ﺝ ﻭﺍﻟﻤﺴﺎﻫﻤﺔ ﻓﻲ ﺍﻴﺠﺎﺩ ﺍﻟﺤﻠﻭل ﺍﻟﻤﻨﺎﺴﺒﺔ ﻟﻠﻤﺸﻜﻠﺔ ﺒﺼﻭﺭﺓ ﻋﻠﻤﻴﺔ ﻭ ﻓﺘﺢ ﺍﻟﺒﺎﺏ ﺃﻤﺎﻡ ﺍﻟﺩﺍﺭﺴﻴﻥ ﻭﺍﻟﻤﺘﺨﺼﺼﻴﻥ ﻓﻲ ﻫﺫﺍ ﺍﻟﻤﺠﺎل ﻹﻀﺎﻓﺔ ﺩﺭﺍﺴﺎﺕ ﺠﺩﻴﺩﺓ ﻤﻤﺎ ﻴﺘﻴﺢ ﺍﺴﺘﻜﺸﺎﻑ ﺤﻘـﺎﺌﻕ ﺠﺩﻴـﺩﺓ. ﻭﻓﺭﻀـﻴﺎﺕ ﺍﻟﺩﺭﺍﺴﺔ ﺃﻥ ﺍﻟﺯﻭﺍﺝ ﻀﺭﻭﻱ ﻭﻻﺒﺩ ﻤﻨﻪ ﻭ ﻤﻥ ﻤﺴﺒﺒﺎﺕ ﺘـﺎﺨﺭ ﺴـﻥ ﺍﻟـﺯﻭﺍﺝ ﺍﺭﺘﻔـﺎﻉ ﻤﻌﺩﻻﺕ ﺍﻟﺒﻁﺎﻟﺔ ﻭﺘﺭﺍﺠﻊ ﺍ ﻟﺩﺨﻭل ﺍﻟﻔﺭﺩﻴﺔ ﻭﺍﻟﺤﺎﻟﺔ ﺍﻟﻤﻬﻨﻴﺔ ﻭﺍﻟﺘﻌﻠﻴﻤﻴﺔ ﻟﻠﻨﺴﺎﺀ ﻭﺍﻟﻬﺠﺭﺓ ﻤﻥ ﺍﻟﺭﻴﻑ ﺍﻟﻲ ﺍﻟﻤﺩﻴﻨﺔ ﻭﺍﻟﺘﺎﺜﻴﺭ ﺍﻟﺜﻘﺎﻓﻲ ﺍﻟﻐﺭﺒﻲ ﻜﻤﺎ ﺘﻔﺘﺭﺽ ﺍﻟﺩﺭﺍﺴﺔ ﻭﺠﻭﺩ ﻋﻼﻗﺔ ﺍﻴﺠﺎﺒﻴـﺔ ﺒﻴﻥ ﺘﺎﺨﺭ ﺴﻥ ﺍﻟﺯﻭﺍﺝ ﻭﺒﻌﺽ ﺍﻟﻤﺘﻐﻴﺭﺍﺕ ﺍﻟﻨﻔﺴﻴﺔ ) ﺍﻟﻘﻠﻕ ﻭﺍﻻﺤﺒﺎﻁ (. ﺍﺴﺘﺨﺩﻤﺕ ﺍﻟﺒﺎﺤﺜﺔ ﺍﻟﻤﻨﻬﺞ ﺍﻟﻭﺼﻔﻲ ﻭﺘﻤﺜل، ﻭﻻﻴﺔ ﺍﻟﺨﺭﻁـﻭﻡ ﻤﺠﺘﻤـﻊ ﺍﻟﺩﺭﺍﺴﺔ ﺍﻟﺫﻯ ﺃﺨﺘﺎﺭﺕ ﺍﻟﺒﺎﺤﺜﺔ ﻋﻴﻨﺔ ﻤﻥ ﺸﺒﺎﺒﻬﺎ ﺒﻠـﻎ ﺤﺠﻤ (200) ﻬـﺎ ﻤـﻥ ﺍﻟﺸﺒﺎﺏ . (30) ﻭﺇﺴﺘﻁﻠﻌﺕ ﺍﻟﺒﺎﺤﺜﺔ ﻤﺠﻤﻭﻋﺎﺕ ﺼﻐﻴﺭﺓ ﺒﻠﻎ ﺤﺠﻤﻬﺎ ﺸﺨـﺼﹰﺎ ﺤﻭل ﺃﺭﺍﺌﻬﻡ ﺤﻭل ﺘﺄﺨﺭ ﺴﻥ ﺍﻟﺯﻭﺍﺝ ﻤﺴﺘﺨﺩﻤﹰﺔ ﻤﻨﻬﺞ ﻤﺠﻤﻭﻋﺎ ﺕ ﺍﻟﻤﻨﺎﻗـﺸﺔ ﺍﻟﻤﺴﺘﻬﺩﻓﺔ . (8) ﻭﺍﻀﺎﻓﺔ ﺍﻟﻰ ﺫﻟﻙ ﺍﺠﺭﺕ ﺍﻟﺒﺎﺤﺜﺔ ﻤﻘﺎﺒﻼﺕ ﻤﻊ ﺨﺒﺭﺍﺀ ﻭﺍﻫل ﺍﺨﺘﺼﺎﺹ ﺤﻭل ﻤﻭﻀﻭﻉ ﺍﻟﺩﺭﺍﺴﺔ . ﻭﻟﻘﺩ ﻤﺜﻠﺕ ﻫﺫﻩ ﺍﻟﻁﺭﻕ ﺍﻟﺜﻼﺜـﺔ ﺜـﻼﺙ ﺩﺭﺍﺴﺎﺕ ﺘﻁﺒﻴﻘﻴﺔ ﻜﺎﻤﻠﺔ . ﻭﻤﻊ ﺘﺤﺭﻱ ﺍﻟﺒﺎﺤﺜﺔ ﺍﻟﻀﻭﺍﺒﻁ ﺍﻟﻤﻨﻬﺠﻴﺔ ﺍﻟﻤﺨﺘﻠﻔﺔ ﻋﻨﺩ ﺇﺠﺭﺍﺀ ﺍﻟﺩﺭﺍﺴﺎﺕ ﺍﻟﺘﻁﺒﻴﻘﻴﺔ ، ﺇﺴﺘﺨﺩﻤﺕ ﻭﺴﻴﻠﺘﻰ ﺘﺤﻠﻴل ﺇﺤﺼﺎﺌﻰ ﻫﻤﺎ ﺍﺨﺘﺒﺎﺭ)ﻜﺎ ( ﻭﺘﺤﻠﻴل ﺍﻟﻤﻀﻤﻭﻥ ﻻﺴـﺘﺨﻼﺹ ﻨﺘﺎﺌﺞ ﺍﻟﺒﺤﺙ . ﻭﺒﻨﺎﺀ ﻋﻠﻴﻪﺘﻭﺼﻠﺕ ﺍﻟﺩﺭﺍﺴﺔ ﺍﻟﻲ ﺍﻟﻨﺘﺎﺌﺞ ﺍﻻﺘﻴﺔ:
1.
ﺗﺪﻧﻲ اﻻﺟﻮر اﻟﻔﺮدﻳﺔ واﺳﺘﻤﺮار اﻟﻌﺎدات واﻟﺘﻘﺎﻟﻴﺪ اﻟﻤﺆدﻳﺔ ﻻرﺗﻔﺎع ﺗﻜﺎﻟﻴﻒ اﻟﺰواج ﻋﺎﻣﻞ ﻣﻦ ﻋﻮاﻣﻞ ﺗﺎﺧﺮ
ﺳﻦ اﻟﺰواج .
2.
اﻟﻬﺠﺮة ﻣﻦ اﻟﺮﻳﻒ اﻟﻲ اﻟﻤﺪﻳﻨﺔ ﻋﺎﻣﻞ ﻣﻦ ﻋﻮاﻣﻞ ﺗﺎﺧﺮ ﺳﻦ اﻟﺰواج
3.
اﻟﻘﻠﻖ اﺛﺮ ﻧﻔﺴﻲ واﺿﺢ ﻣﻦ اﺛﺎر ﺗﺎﺧﻴﺮ ﺳﻦ اﻟﺰواج
4.
اﻟﺤﺎﻟﺔ اﻟﻤﻬﻨﻴﺔ ﻋﺎﻣًﻼ ﻟﻴﺴﺖ ﻣ ﻮدﻳًﺎ اﻟﻰ ﺗﺎﺧﺮ ﺳﻦ اﻟﺰواج.
5.
ﻻﺗﻮﺟﺪ ﻋﻼﻗﺔ ﺑﻴﻦ اﻻﺣﺒﺎط وﺗﺎﺧﺮ ﺳﻦ اﻟﺰواج ﻓﻰ اﻟﻌﻴﻨﺔ اﻟﻤﺴﺤﻴﺔ .
6.
اﻟﺤﺎﻟﺔ اﻟﺘﻌﻠﻴﻤﻴﺔ ﻟﻠﻔﺘﺎة ﻋﺎﻣﻞ ﻣﻦ ﻋﻮاﻣﻞ ﺗﺎﺧﺮ ﺳﻦ اﻟﺰواج .
7.
اﻟﻐﺰو اﻟﺜﻘﺎﻓﻰ اﻟﻐﺮﺑﻰ ﻋﺎﻣﻞ ﻣﻦ ﻋﻮاﻣﻞ ﺗﺄﺧﺮ ﺳﻦ اﻟﺰواج .
Abstract
This study focuses on how and why an increasing number of Sudanese youth are either unmarried, or married at a late age. Within the larger Sudanese community the study is conducted in Khartoum State. While the theoretical part of the study maps both theoretical and historical aspects of the issue at stake, three empirical studies were conducted: a survey using a questionnaire, interviews with some experts, and a focus group study where groups of men and women of the same professional background were brought together and requested to discuss the reasons why Sudanese youth are either unmarried, or married at a late age. The hypothesis the present study is based on is that marriage is both a social and physiological necessity, and the major cause of a late age marriage is the high rate of unemployment, and low income. Displacement from rural to urban areas and migration outside the country are also assumed to be reasons behind the phenomenon under research. Growing influence of western culture on the Sudanese youth is one more reason hypothesized by the researcher as being behind the late age marriage or the unmarried status of many Sudanese youth. From the methodological perspective this study adopts a descriptive approach. In this context the study samples 200 men and women through a questionnaire, 30 men and women taking part in focus groups, and eight experts were also interviewed . Data collected are statistically analyzed using the statistical Chi Square test. In addition to other results, the study findings support the assumption that low income is one root cause for late age marriage and/or unmarried status. Displacement from rural to urban areas is also a cause for delayed marriage and/or unmarried status.
إﺷــــــــﺮاف: د .هﺎرون ﻣﺤﻤﺪ ﻣﺤﺠﻮب
ﺑﺤﺚ ﻣﻘﺪﻡ ﻟﻨﻴﻞ ﺩ ﺍﻟﻨﻔﺲ ﺭﺟﺔ ﻣﺎﺟﺴﺘﻴﺮ ﺍﻵﺩﺍﺏ ﻓﻲ ﻋﻠﻢ
ﺍﻟﺨﻼﺼﺔ 2003-ﻡ2002 ﺃﺠﺭﻴﺕ ﻫﺫﻩ ﺍﻟﺩﺭﺍﺴﺔ ﻓﻲ ﺴﻨﺔ ، ﻡ ﻋﻠﻲ ﻤﺠﻤﻭﻋﺔ ﻤﺴﺘﻬﺩﻓﺔ ﻤﻥ ﺍﻟﺸﺒﺎﺏ ﻤﻥ ﺍﻟﺨﺒﺭﺍﺀ ﻭ ﺍﻟﻤﻬﺘﻤﻴﻥ ﺒﺎﻤﺭ ﺘﺎﺨﺭ ﺴﻥ ﺍﻟﺯﻭﺍﺝ ، ﺒﻭﻻﻴﺔ ﺍﻟﺨﺭﻁﻭﻡ ﻫﺩﻓﺕ ﻫﺫﻩ ﺍﻟﺩﺭﺍﺴﺔ ﺍﻟﻲ ﺍﻟﺘﻌﺭﻑ ﻋﻠﻲ ﺍﻟﺤﻘﺎﺌﻕ ﺍﻻﺴﺎﺴﻴﺔ ﺍﻟﺘﻲ ﺘﻭﺩﻱ ﺍﻟﻲ ﺘﺄﺨﺭ ﺴﻥ ﺍﻟﺯﻭﺍ ﺝ ﻭﺍﻟﻤﺴﺎﻫﻤﺔ ﻓﻲ ﺍﻴﺠﺎﺩ ﺍﻟﺤﻠﻭل ﺍﻟﻤﻨﺎﺴﺒﺔ ﻟﻠﻤﺸﻜﻠﺔ ﺒﺼﻭﺭﺓ ﻋﻠﻤﻴﺔ ﻭ ﻓﺘﺢ ﺍﻟﺒﺎﺏ ﺃﻤﺎﻡ ﺍﻟﺩﺍﺭﺴﻴﻥ ﻭﺍﻟﻤﺘﺨﺼﺼﻴﻥ ﻓﻲ ﻫﺫﺍ ﺍﻟﻤﺠﺎل ﻹﻀﺎﻓﺔ ﺩﺭﺍﺴﺎﺕ ﺠﺩﻴﺩﺓ ﻤﻤﺎ ﻴﺘﻴﺢ ﺍﺴﺘﻜﺸﺎﻑ ﺤﻘـﺎﺌﻕ ﺠﺩﻴـﺩﺓ. ﻭﻓﺭﻀـﻴﺎﺕ ﺍﻟﺩﺭﺍﺴﺔ ﺃﻥ ﺍﻟﺯﻭﺍﺝ ﻀﺭﻭﻱ ﻭﻻﺒﺩ ﻤﻨﻪ ﻭ ﻤﻥ ﻤﺴﺒﺒﺎﺕ ﺘـﺎﺨﺭ ﺴـﻥ ﺍﻟـﺯﻭﺍﺝ ﺍﺭﺘﻔـﺎﻉ ﻤﻌﺩﻻﺕ ﺍﻟﺒﻁﺎﻟﺔ ﻭﺘﺭﺍﺠﻊ ﺍ ﻟﺩﺨﻭل ﺍﻟﻔﺭﺩﻴﺔ ﻭﺍﻟﺤﺎﻟﺔ ﺍﻟﻤﻬﻨﻴﺔ ﻭﺍﻟﺘﻌﻠﻴﻤﻴﺔ ﻟﻠﻨﺴﺎﺀ ﻭﺍﻟﻬﺠﺭﺓ ﻤﻥ ﺍﻟﺭﻴﻑ ﺍﻟﻲ ﺍﻟﻤﺩﻴﻨﺔ ﻭﺍﻟﺘﺎﺜﻴﺭ ﺍﻟﺜﻘﺎﻓﻲ ﺍﻟﻐﺭﺒﻲ ﻜﻤﺎ ﺘﻔﺘﺭﺽ ﺍﻟﺩﺭﺍﺴﺔ ﻭﺠﻭﺩ ﻋﻼﻗﺔ ﺍﻴﺠﺎﺒﻴـﺔ ﺒﻴﻥ ﺘﺎﺨﺭ ﺴﻥ ﺍﻟﺯﻭﺍﺝ ﻭﺒﻌﺽ ﺍﻟﻤﺘﻐﻴﺭﺍﺕ ﺍﻟﻨﻔﺴﻴﺔ ) ﺍﻟﻘﻠﻕ ﻭﺍﻻﺤﺒﺎﻁ (. ﺍﺴﺘﺨﺩﻤﺕ ﺍﻟﺒﺎﺤﺜﺔ ﺍﻟﻤﻨﻬﺞ ﺍﻟﻭﺼﻔﻲ ﻭﺘﻤﺜل، ﻭﻻﻴﺔ ﺍﻟﺨﺭﻁـﻭﻡ ﻤﺠﺘﻤـﻊ ﺍﻟﺩﺭﺍﺴﺔ ﺍﻟﺫﻯ ﺃﺨﺘﺎﺭﺕ ﺍﻟﺒﺎﺤﺜﺔ ﻋﻴﻨﺔ ﻤﻥ ﺸﺒﺎﺒﻬﺎ ﺒﻠـﻎ ﺤﺠﻤ (200) ﻬـﺎ ﻤـﻥ ﺍﻟﺸﺒﺎﺏ . (30) ﻭﺇﺴﺘﻁﻠﻌﺕ ﺍﻟﺒﺎﺤﺜﺔ ﻤﺠﻤﻭﻋﺎﺕ ﺼﻐﻴﺭﺓ ﺒﻠﻎ ﺤﺠﻤﻬﺎ ﺸﺨـﺼﹰﺎ ﺤﻭل ﺃﺭﺍﺌﻬﻡ ﺤﻭل ﺘﺄﺨﺭ ﺴﻥ ﺍﻟﺯﻭﺍﺝ ﻤﺴﺘﺨﺩﻤﹰﺔ ﻤﻨﻬﺞ ﻤﺠﻤﻭﻋﺎ ﺕ ﺍﻟﻤﻨﺎﻗـﺸﺔ ﺍﻟﻤﺴﺘﻬﺩﻓﺔ . (8) ﻭﺍﻀﺎﻓﺔ ﺍﻟﻰ ﺫﻟﻙ ﺍﺠﺭﺕ ﺍﻟﺒﺎﺤﺜﺔ ﻤﻘﺎﺒﻼﺕ ﻤﻊ ﺨﺒﺭﺍﺀ ﻭﺍﻫل ﺍﺨﺘﺼﺎﺹ ﺤﻭل ﻤﻭﻀﻭﻉ ﺍﻟﺩﺭﺍﺴﺔ . ﻭﻟﻘﺩ ﻤﺜﻠﺕ ﻫﺫﻩ ﺍﻟﻁﺭﻕ ﺍﻟﺜﻼﺜـﺔ ﺜـﻼﺙ ﺩﺭﺍﺴﺎﺕ ﺘﻁﺒﻴﻘﻴﺔ ﻜﺎﻤﻠﺔ . ﻭﻤﻊ ﺘﺤﺭﻱ ﺍﻟﺒﺎﺤﺜﺔ ﺍﻟﻀﻭﺍﺒﻁ ﺍﻟﻤﻨﻬﺠﻴﺔ ﺍﻟﻤﺨﺘﻠﻔﺔ ﻋﻨﺩ ﺇﺠﺭﺍﺀ ﺍﻟﺩﺭﺍﺴﺎﺕ ﺍﻟﺘﻁﺒﻴﻘﻴﺔ ، ﺇﺴﺘﺨﺩﻤﺕ ﻭﺴﻴﻠﺘﻰ ﺘﺤﻠﻴل ﺇﺤﺼﺎﺌﻰ ﻫﻤﺎ ﺍﺨﺘﺒﺎﺭ)ﻜﺎ ( ﻭﺘﺤﻠﻴل ﺍﻟﻤﻀﻤﻭﻥ ﻻﺴـﺘﺨﻼﺹ ﻨﺘﺎﺌﺞ ﺍﻟﺒﺤﺙ . ﻭﺒﻨﺎﺀ ﻋﻠﻴﻪﺘﻭﺼﻠﺕ ﺍﻟﺩﺭﺍﺴﺔ ﺍﻟﻲ ﺍﻟﻨﺘﺎﺌﺞ ﺍﻻﺘﻴﺔ:
1.
ﺗﺪﻧﻲ اﻻﺟﻮر اﻟﻔﺮدﻳﺔ واﺳﺘﻤﺮار اﻟﻌﺎدات واﻟﺘﻘﺎﻟﻴﺪ اﻟﻤﺆدﻳﺔ ﻻرﺗﻔﺎع ﺗﻜﺎﻟﻴﻒ اﻟﺰواج ﻋﺎﻣﻞ ﻣﻦ ﻋﻮاﻣﻞ ﺗﺎﺧﺮ
ﺳﻦ اﻟﺰواج .
2.
اﻟﻬﺠﺮة ﻣﻦ اﻟﺮﻳﻒ اﻟﻲ اﻟﻤﺪﻳﻨﺔ ﻋﺎﻣﻞ ﻣﻦ ﻋﻮاﻣﻞ ﺗﺎﺧﺮ ﺳﻦ اﻟﺰواج
3.
اﻟﻘﻠﻖ اﺛﺮ ﻧﻔﺴﻲ واﺿﺢ ﻣﻦ اﺛﺎر ﺗﺎﺧﻴﺮ ﺳﻦ اﻟﺰواج
4.
اﻟﺤﺎﻟﺔ اﻟﻤﻬﻨﻴﺔ ﻋﺎﻣًﻼ ﻟﻴﺴﺖ ﻣ ﻮدﻳًﺎ اﻟﻰ ﺗﺎﺧﺮ ﺳﻦ اﻟﺰواج.
5.
ﻻﺗﻮﺟﺪ ﻋﻼﻗﺔ ﺑﻴﻦ اﻻﺣﺒﺎط وﺗﺎﺧﺮ ﺳﻦ اﻟﺰواج ﻓﻰ اﻟﻌﻴﻨﺔ اﻟﻤﺴﺤﻴﺔ .
6.
اﻟﺤﺎﻟﺔ اﻟﺘﻌﻠﻴﻤﻴﺔ ﻟﻠﻔﺘﺎة ﻋﺎﻣﻞ ﻣﻦ ﻋﻮاﻣﻞ ﺗﺎﺧﺮ ﺳﻦ اﻟﺰواج .
7.
اﻟﻐﺰو اﻟﺜﻘﺎﻓﻰ اﻟﻐﺮﺑﻰ ﻋﺎﻣﻞ ﻣﻦ ﻋﻮاﻣﻞ ﺗﺄﺧﺮ ﺳﻦ اﻟﺰواج .
Abstract
This study focuses on how and why an increasing number of Sudanese youth are either unmarried, or married at a late age. Within the larger Sudanese community the study is conducted in Khartoum State. While the theoretical part of the study maps both theoretical and historical aspects of the issue at stake, three empirical studies were conducted: a survey using a questionnaire, interviews with some experts, and a focus group study where groups of men and women of the same professional background were brought together and requested to discuss the reasons why Sudanese youth are either unmarried, or married at a late age. The hypothesis the present study is based on is that marriage is both a social and physiological necessity, and the major cause of a late age marriage is the high rate of unemployment, and low income. Displacement from rural to urban areas and migration outside the country are also assumed to be reasons behind the phenomenon under research. Growing influence of western culture on the Sudanese youth is one more reason hypothesized by the researcher as being behind the late age marriage or the unmarried status of many Sudanese youth. From the methodological perspective this study adopts a descriptive approach. In this context the study samples 200 men and women through a questionnaire, 30 men and women taking part in focus groups, and eight experts were also interviewed . Data collected are statistically analyzed using the statistical Chi Square test. In addition to other results, the study findings support the assumption that low income is one root cause for late age marriage and/or unmarried status. Displacement from rural to urban areas is also a cause for delayed marriage and/or unmarried status.