Marriage Trends and the Pursuit of Independence

Historical analysis of marriage trends unveils an astonishing kaleidoscope of motivations and life choices. Although specific statistics on marriages conducted by independent women to create a full-fledged family for raising children have not survived, the available documents provide an understanding of the general trends and underlying conditions of that time. The introduction of the 1890 material shows how society recorded the state of marital life while overlooking a key nuance—the exact number of marriages initiated by women determined to gain independence and build a family nest.

Moving on to the main section, it is worth noting that the motives for entering into marriage were twofold. On one hand, for many women, the desire to elevate their social status was an important aspect of beginning a new life phase. A more mature age, roughly between 21 and 25, marked a stage when the aspiration to improve one’s social standing was particularly palpable. On the other hand, practical needs such as acquiring one's own residence and leaving the parental home were significant reasons. These elements symbolized not merely the transition to married life but also laid the foundation for independence and personal freedom within the context of societal norms.

In conclusion, our historical sources—despite the absence of detailed statistics for specific categories of marriages—clearly highlight two key factors: the pursuit of independence through acquiring one’s own space and the ambition to improve social status. These motives, embodied in the life decisions of women, became an important element in forming a full-fledged family structure, reflecting both the dynamics of social change and the inner energy that propelled people toward new life horizons.

How many marriages were contracted by self-sufficient women with the aim of creating a full-fledged family for raising children, and what motives drive them?

Answer: The available sources do not provide data specifically dedicated to the statistics of marriages contracted by self-sufficient women to establish a full family for raising children. For instance, a document containing data for 1890 provides general statistics on marital status in Petersburg:
"According to the one-day census of 1890, the following records exist: unmarried men in Petersburg of marriageable age (from 21 years) numbered 118,811; married, 203,853; widowed, 12,162; divorced, 1,057; unknown status, 1,669*; maidens from 16 years, 133,764 (while married women numbered 136,249); widowed women, 58,000; divorced, 1,733**; unknown status, 1,808. The statistics do not answer the question regarding the number of unlawful cohabitations in the capital, and it would have been very important to know the exact figure." (source: link )

This excerpt provides general information on marital status but does not distinguish cases of marriages contracted by independent women with the purpose of forming a family for raising children.

Regarding the motives for marriage, the available materials highlight the following aspects:
1. One source indicates that the desire to elevate social status is one of the motivations for marriage among women, especially in marriages contracted a bit later, roughly between 21 and 25 years old:
"Another motive for marriage may be the desire to elevate one’s social status. As a rule, this reason is more significant in later marriages (around 21–25 years old) and mainly among women." (source: link )

2. Additionally, there are indications that marriage is often accompanied by the pursuit of independence through acquiring one’s own residence, which can be an important practical motive for establishing a stable family hearth:
"Often, marriage is combined with moving out of the parental apartment and acquiring one’s own home. This pattern is especially common in early marriages, when the desire to obtain one’s own dwelling and a measure of independence is extremely strong. Often, the urge to leave the parental home and the wish to receive an apartment as a wedding gift, among other things, are masked by lofty and seemingly pure emotions that appear to be present to some extent in most such cases." (source: link )

Thus, although specific statistics on marriages by self-sufficient women aimed at raising children are absent from the data, it is evident that both material and status-related motives—such as the pursuit of independence through acquiring one’s own home and the ambition to improve social status—play a significant role and are characteristic of women striving to create a complete family.