[Nuptiality and professional groups in Quebec during the French regime]

Area of Science:

• Demography
• Sociology
• Historical Studies

Background:

• Historical demographic regimes are complex systems with interacting elements.
• Marriage patterns offer insights into societal structures and norms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the age of first marriages in Quebec during the French regime.
• To investigate the relationship between marriage age, sex-based division of labor, and professional group establishment.
• To assess the degree of professional endogamy within different social strata.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of historical marriage records from Quebec during the French regime.
• Statistical examination of age at first marriage.
• Evaluation of matrimonial ties and professional group affiliations.

Main Results:

• The age of first marriage in Quebec during the French regime indicated a distinct division of tasks by sex within families.
• Marriage age also reflected varying establishment opportunities and rank requirements across different professional groups.
• Professional endogamy was significantly more prevalent among the upper social strata, specifically officers and merchants.

Conclusions:

• Marriage patterns serve as a valuable indicator of socio-economic structures and gender roles in historical populations.
• The study highlights the influence of professional status and economic factors on marriage choices and family organization.
• Quebec's French regime society exhibited strong professional endogamy, particularly within its elite circles.