MARRIAGE TIMING IN SRI-LANKA - THE ROLE OF MODERN NORMS AND IDEAS

This article contributes empirical evidence to the critique of moderni zation theory, which continues to underpin much social research on non -Western societies despite the frequent and open challenges to its leg itimacy and ability in predicting family change. Our analysis employs longitudinal data, focus group information, and event history models t o examine the timing of marriage for a cohort of young women in Sri La nka. We argue that despite the infusion of modern ideational factors, family organization, interests, and cultural prescriptions have a subs tantial role to play in determining when young Sri Lankan women enter marriage. The results support our contention that the process of socia l change does not involve a linear shift from a consistent, packaged s et of traditional conditions to modern ones, but rather a more complex interaction and coexistence of these two sets of values. Our results indicate that family and cultural factors continue to be important in determining marriage timing for the present generation of young women in Sri Lanka.