In Russia as elsewhere in the world, marriage is a complex phenomenon in a state of constant flux. As compared to previous generations, the majority of young men and women today prefer not to rush into marriage, fewer people are marrying and the divorce rate is rising. Nonetheless, while divorce may have become more common, the support for marriage as an institution in Russian society remains strong. In the post-Soviet period, Russian women like their Western counterparts no longer fi nd fulfilment just through families and motherhood and many pursue careers. Consequently, demographic statistics show considerable changes in behaviour and attitudes, with the rate of registered marriages falling and the number of children born outside wedlock rising. There are unmarried mothers of all ages and social backgrounds and living together outside registered marriage has become commonplace.
