No es lo mismo pero es igual: a singularidade da segunda transição demográfica em Cuba

Abstract

This PhD thesis addresses the process of family development and structure in Cuba , based on the assumptions that stem from the so-called Second Demographic Transition. A significant portion of this work focuses on the transition process that Cuba underwent through the 20th century. The choice of this topic is due to the growing need to explain the conditions that our population has been exhibiting for the last 20 years, at the end of which period, according to experts consensus, the demographic transition came to an end.The general objective of this work has been to identify and elaborate on the characteristics of the process of family formation verified in the 1990's. Sexuality, marital status and fertility were at all times taken into consideration when analyzing the context in which these processes took place, under the assumption of the so-called "second demographic transition" in such a way that it became plausible to even discuss whether such occurrence took place.The methodology applied was one that integrates both qualitative and quantitative perspectives in order to achieve the following: a) in-depth study of the Cuban demographic transition process with data emerging from global indicators; b) explain the current demographic conditions through individual perspective and their interactions with global indicators.The most significant outcomes confirm the existence of an actual second demographic transition in the processes of family development and structure. Some features were corroborated throughout the investigation such as: fertility bellow the levels of replacement in a sustained manner, increase in cohabitation, age of first legal marriage, and divorce, and decrease in marriages of any kind.Also in this scenario were found postponement of children, frequent use of abortion and the increase of single-parent families. The uniqueness of the Cuban situation lies manly in the conservation of a young pattern of fertility, the historic singularities of cohabitation and the motivations that triggered (and still are triggering) most of these behaviors.In the same note, a mix of economic, social and cultural factors stand out in the midst of any attempt of demographic analysis, such as the impact of the programs of the revolution, the historical legacy of marriage patterns and economic crises of the nineties.Despite of the countries proverbial homogeneity in demographic and social terms, the results of the case studies in general revealed a number of differences in relation to variables such as age and educational level.