page 8
daily nebraskan
friday, October 30, 1981
Out-of-wedlock births rise, abortion rates ensue
By Patty Pryor
The number of out-of-wedlock births
has increased 50 percent over the last dec
cade, so that now, at least one in every six
American babies is born to unwed parents,
according to a U.S. government study. Fig
ures in Nebraska also show an increase.
A variety of societal changes, including
later marriages, have contributed to this in
crease, said Kristin A. Moore, a senior re
searcher with the Urban Institute in Wash
ington, D.C.
"So many more women are delaying
marriage, she said, "so there are just more
unmarried women in the population over
all.' The number of American women of
childbearing age has risen by 4 percent over
the last decade, but overall childbearing
by unmarried women has increased by 6.1
percent during the same period, according
to National Center for Health Statistics fig
ures. This decrease in the number of marria
ges is partially the result of less rigid social
stigmas attached to a mother who chooses
to raise her child alone, Moore said.
Lessened stigma
"The lessened social stigma reason is
frequently given, and I think it's an accu
rate one," she said.
"More women are weighing the alterna
tives and realistically deciding that a stable
marriage is not always a real good possibil
ity." This situation is particularly true
among black pre-marital pregnancies,
Moore said, in which the chances for suc
cessful marriage are even more greatly re
duced by poor economic conditions.
"In the black community, unemploy
ment among males is pretty striking," she
said.
In 1979, the most recent year for which
statistics are available, 55 percent of all
black babies were born out of wedlock,
compared to 38 percent in 1970.
White increase greater
However, the increase in out-of-wedlock
births among teen-agers is still greater
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among whites than among blacks, accord
ing to U.S. Census Bureau statistics.
The increase in teen-age pregnancies is
also the result of changes in societal struc
ture, Moore said.
"There is a larger at-risk percentage of
the population," she said, "which has
brought an increase in non-marital sex, par
ticularly among teen-agers.'
Moore said the high incidence of teen
age pregnancies presents a more serious
problem.
"I've always considered the age of the
mother more critical than the marital stat
us," she said.
Other than the heightened psychological
burdens usually incurred by teen-age
mothers, teen-age pregnancies create a
greater economic burden as well.
"Over the half of the mothers on wel
fare now were teen-agers when they had
their first birth," Moore said.
"The problem becomes clear to the tax
payer too, when it becomes a tax burden,"
she added.
Of the 1 .1 million teen-age pregnancies
each year, according to Urban Institute fig
ures, 22 percent end in out-of-wedlock
births, 10 percent result in marriage, 17
percent are post-marital conceptions, 13
percent end in miscarriages and 38 percent
result in abortions.
Abortion rates play a major role in de
termining pre-marital birth statistics,Moore
said.
"The incidence of pre-marital pregnan
cy is very high," she said, "but abortions
are partially keeping a lid on the situation.
"The increase in absolute all abortions is
tremendous," she added. More than
400,000 teen-agers received abortions last
year, Moore said, and the 20- to 24-year-old
age bracket accounted for a third of all
abortions last year.
The percentages of abortions for 20- to
24-year-olds is particularly interesting, she
said.
"I think it shows that they're just not as
sophisticated and mature as they're made
out to be," she said.
The frequency of adoption as an alter
native to abortion is hard to assess because
visibility all the '
things you rued to , I
K
adoption figures are unavailable, Moore
said.
'There are no adoption statistics," she
said, "but we know there's been a decline
(in the number put up for adoption) be
cause the waiting lists are years long."
The Urban Institute report was based on
records from Washington D.C and the 39
states that require a mothers marital status
on the birth certificate, Moore said.
Figures show increase
Figures from the Health, Data and Sta
tistical Research Department of the Nebra
ska Vital Statistics Bureau also show an in
crease in pre-marital births, according to
Bust of Venezuelan author
shows international amity
By Joi Patterson
The long-standing friendship between
UNL and Venezuela will be reinforced
by a gift to be presented to UNL Mon
day by former Venezuelan President Ra
fael Caldera.
According to Roberto Esquenazi
Mayo, director of the Institute for In
ternational Studies, the gift is a bronze
bust of Andres Bello, a man regarded as
"the father of intellectual freedom."
The bust is the work of Venezuelan
sculptor F. Gonzalez.
"This recognition of the close and
cordial relationship which has developed
between UNL and Venezuela is a dis
tinct, unique and unusual honor," Es-quenazi-Mayo
said.
In 1975, Venezuelan authors, folk
lore dancers, singers and artists put on a
festival at the university for an entire
month. The festival was a token of ap
preciation from Venezuela, and a part
of the United States' bicentennial cele
bration, Esquenazi-Mayo said.
Caldera, who was president of Vene
zuela from 1969 to 1974, is now a sen
ator in Venezuela. The Venezuelan Con
stitution states that when a president
ends his term, he becomes a senator for
life. Caldera is also a law professor at
the Central University of Venezuela in
Caracus and president of the World In
terparliamentary Union, a representa
FWDAY,OCT.30
Display Judging. Homecoming-theme displays
judged at Greek houses and Residence Halls
at 3 pm.
FRIDAY, OCT. 30
Homecoming Parade. Starts at the Union. 15th
and R streets, at 630 pm Applications for participation
available until Oct. 28 in Nebraska Union. Room 200.
Pep RaDy on Coliseum steps following parade.
SATURDAY, OCT. 31
College Showcase. College boards display their
colleges in Union. 8 am to 12 pm
Red Cross is counting
on you.
Crf Office of Campus Activities and Programs 472-8454 tor more information
All events coxd-nated by the A-Un,ve-s,ty Homecom.ng Cormwtee (The commmee a
represented by Corncobs, tassels. UNI Mdfchmq Bend Panhellemr AJ rwTTi.!. ?
Ccunc . ad. UK-East. u2Et?feK
Homecom.ng 1981 with assistance from Pepsi Cola of Lincoln Inc.
Kris Blitz-Kent, a statistical clerk with the
department.
However, the state increase has been
slower than the national increase, probably
because "Nebraska is rather conservative,"
she said.
There were 324 more out-of-wedlock
births this year than last year, she said.
In 1980, there were 3,165 out-of-wedlock
births, which represented 11.4 percent
of all births in the state that year.
"Abortions have gone up very steadily,
too, Blitz-Kent said.
The number of abortions for Nebraska
residents has increased from 3,255 in 1977
to 6,060 in 1980, she said.
tion of senators from democratic na
tions around the world.
Caldera, a biographer of Bello, will
present the bust at 9:30 ajn. in the
Sheldon Memorial Art Gallery. UNL
Chancellor Martin Massengale will pre
side over the ceremony and NU Presi
dent Ronald Roskens will introduce Cal
dera. Caldera will also meet with students
and the public in an open forum at 2:30
p.m. in the Nebraska Union.
Caldera is an internationally noted
authority on Bello, Esquenazi-Mayo
said. Bello settled in Chile in 1829 and
founded the University of Chile in
1843, serving as its head until his death
in 1855. He spent 19 years in London as
secretary to the legations of Chile and
Columbia. Bello also was an author, and
his position in literature was secured by
two poems which conveyed the majes
tic impression of the South American
landscape.
Caldera will present the bust as part
of the world commemoration of BeUo's
200th birthday. Caldera will be here for
just one day, Esquenazi-Mayo said. Cal
dera will be in Washington, D.C. Tues
day, to give a presentation on Bello at
the Library of Congress.
"We felt very honored he will bring
the gift," Esquenazi-Mayo said. "It will
afford students to meet a distinguished
scholar and a great statesman."
Entertainment in the Plaza UNL Varsity Glee
Club at 1030 am Scarlet and Cream Singers outside
Qnion at 1115 am
' NEBRASKA vs. KANSAS footbafl game.
Kickoff in Memorial Stadium at 130 pm
Crowning of Royalty. Halftime football game.
Hot Air Balloons. Weather permitting, balloons
wifl fly over campus Saturday morning.
SUNDAY, NOV. 1
Dan Fogelberg Conceit. Bob Devaney
Sports Center. 8 pm