What is meant by births outside marriage and their trend?

• A. Children born to married parents; rates have declined.
• B. Children born to unmarried parents; rates have risen due to changing attitudes and economic/legal factors.
• C. Children born in institutions; rates unchanged.
• D. Births outside marriage refer to adoption.

Answer: (B)

Births outside marriage means babies born to parents who are not legally married. The trend in many societies has been an increase in these births, as opposed to staying constant or declining. This rise is tied to changing attitudes toward marriage and family—it's more socially acceptable to have children outside marriage—and to economic and legal factors that make non-marital parenting more feasible. For example, more couples live together without marrying, and women have greater independence and access to resources, while policies and social norms have reduced the stigma around such births. The other options describe different situations (births to married parents, births in institutions, or adoptions) and don’t define births outside marriage.