What are the reasons why some women have children with their boyfriends without marriage?

[Anonymous]

What are the reasons why some women have children with their boyfriends without marriage? Not one child, but more than one, without marriage.

I don't understand why, because I feel that the women would be the ones at disadvantage eventually. For example, if the relationships didn't work out, and the couples broke up, do the people raising the children get to ask for alimony? I don't want to generalize, but in many situations, the women would be the ones raising the kids since they're the mothers, but of course, there are single fathers as well.

Who gets the custody? Since the couples are not married, what law regulates who gets the custody, as well as how much alimony the other person provides to the one raising the children?

I know a woman who has 2 children with her boyfriend, and another woman jokingly (or seriously?) said that if the man's background is from a particular Hispanic country, technically they're married, if they live together and have kids. The first woman then confirmed that's where her boyfriend is from, and that second woman said it quickly yes they're considered married. Is that a cultural thing that some women are willing to have multiple kids with their partners without marriage?

[OrallyFixated]

I have been with my common-law husband for 28 years now.
We have three kids.
I have never been all that interested in marriage. It’s not really necessary.
We joint own everything but our own cars. Wills are made so that there is no issue should something happen to one of us. And where I live, our common-law status gives all the same rights of married couples should we ever break up.
We have been to a few wedding over the years. You know, most of those people are divorced now.
We, the unmarried heathens, seem to have a better relationship than many of our married counterparts.
Marriage guarantees nothing.
Commitment does. And you don’t have to be married to be committed.

[Asker]

Yes, I understand commitment does not require marriage, but my question was not about commitment and did not say that marriage guaranteed commitment.

I just did not understand how and why people are willing to take the risks and have multiple children with their partners without marriage, since marriage is legal. Should a married couple be divorced, the one raising the child can sue the other if alimony not provided or sufficient, etc.

I feel that having children without marriage, or even before marriage, would seem to risky and I feel that the woman might be the one at disadvantage (the guy and his family can always come around and say things about the woman), but I guess if two people have discussed in details what to do if broken up, have documents notarized, then it would be fine.

[OrallyFixated]

I would get the exact same consideration in a break up as I would if we were legally married. Common law here works the same way. So there is no risk for me or my kids. There is literally nothing marriage can offer me now that I don’t already have.

[Wise4myage]

I don't know, that makes no sense to me either. I guess they could discuss custody issues.